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I know Christmas is over, and most are probably wondering if they can continue another day with their New Year’s resolutions, but I’m still thinking about Christmas. Perhaps I didn’t get enough of the goodwill or cheer? Maybe I want the spirit of Christmas to continue because people, in general, were nicer. I would hope it is because I am still focusing on the reason for the season, Jesus. Yeah, let’s say it’s that last one because it sounds holy!

Did I do enough to show God’s love to the world? After all, He showed us the ultimate love by sending his only Son, Jesus, to the world to fulfill our greatest need, saving us from our sins. That would be a hard decision, knowing that your Son was going to die a horrible death. I mean, there are times when I struggle to decide if I want to get involved in helping someone or not. I ask myself, “How long is this going to take?” Or “What is this going to cost me?”

Demonstrating the love of God isn’t something we should only do at Christmas but all the time. Meeting someone’s physical needs is a great way to start a conversation that can lead to sharing about God’s love.

I had an opportunity to do that this morning. April and I went to a restaurant to have breakfast while waiting for our car to be repaired at a nearby “Complete Auto Care” facility. A homeless man asked me if I had some change so he could purchase a sausage biscuit. He still smelled of his last cigarette. My flesh wanted to judge him. My mind was arguing, “If he can afford cigarettes, then he can buy his meal.” God’s Spirit, which dwells within me, won, and I met his physical need of hunger. That led to a conversation about God and his love and the importance of accepting Jesus into our hearts. I’m not a religious hero; I’m just mindful of others’ need for Christ.

“Christmas Hangover?” I’m not sure, or perhaps it is hanging on to Christ for help in spreading the love of God to a dying world. Either way, I hope it continues all year.

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. John 3:16-18 (MSG)

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