Since I was a small boy I can remember singing, "Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so." Do you know the song? Do you know that Jesus loves you? I'm not asking if you know the information. More than just 2 + 2 = 4; more than just some facts, do you know that Jesus loves you? I don't mean know like you could recite a recipe for a French toast . I'm asking if you know what those ingredients taste like together? Have you tasted God's love?

It's only been more recently in my life that I've known in my heart that God loves me, that He loves me. I'm a little embarrassed to admit this. I mean, why does a 20-something-year-old man need to know that God loves him? That's for kids, right? How stunned I was not long ago to have God meet me in such a powerful, personal way, and just immerse me in this idea that He loves me!

Christmas turned around for me when I experienced and tasted His love--to know God's love, not just with my head but with my heart. The good news that I promised you is this: He loves you, too.

I know what you may be thinking, "Well yeah, God loves me. I mean, God loves everybody, and I'm part of everybody, and so here I am in this big city, in this big world." Don't misunderstand--God doesn't love you like He sees a football stadium full of people, alright? He loves you--just you.

The Bible has some definite things to say about that. Isaiah 49:16 says that He has engraved you upon the palm of His hand and that He numbers the hairs of your head (Matthew 10:30). The Lord tells us that He saves your tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8). Do you see? This is a message for you personally. It doesn't matter where you've been, it doesn't matter what you've done, it doesn't matter what you've experienced--God loves you. It doesn't matter what you have thought about yourself or what other people may have said about you--God loves you. You are honored, you are precious in His eyes, and He loves you! (Isaiah 43:4). Isn't that an amazing truth?

Maybe some of you are like, "Exactly how much love does God have for me? Could you break it down?" Sure--almost every time the Bible describes God's love, it makes a beeline for the cross.

The cross of Jesus Christ is God's statement about God's love. Wait a minute, James. It's not Easter, it's Christmas! Yeah, but don't you see how they're connected? When you think of the immensity of God's love, the first thing the Bible often asks us to do is to consider the price that was paid. "God so loved the world that He gave His Son" (John 3:16). "God demonstrated His love toward us in this, that while we were yet sinners, Christ [God's only Son] died for us" (Romans 5:8).

What makes this love so amazing is that it is highlighted against the backdrop of a debt that each one of us owes. At the core of God's being is His holiness. In order for us to have any kind of relationship with Him, we have to find a way to get our sins forgiven. Problem is that's just way too big of a problem; there's nothing we can do to accomplish that. We can't buy God's favor, we can't work for God's favor, we can't ever be good enough to earn God's favor. Some would argue that God's defining characteristic is love, but if that was so, God could welcome us all into heaven and say, "Just c'mon, we'll work it out when you get here." But God's holiness demanded that sin be paid for before there could be any relationship, and then God's love found a way. That's exactly why Jesus had to come. "In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the [payment] for our sins." Because God is holy, He can't look on that sin--it must be covered. Jesus' blood covered our sin. Hebrews 9:22 says that "without the shedding of blood there is no payment for sin."

I know, I know, some nice people want to hush me here, "SHh-h-h. You're getting blood on the snow. Don't wreck Christmas!" But listen--don't miss the amazing truth about Christmas! Don't only see the glossy Christmas card version of Jesus anymore, "Oh, Jesus, look at the sweet baby." The truth is so much more. Jesus, holy God, light and love incarnate, left heaven that first Christmas night to be born a baby, to live a sinless life, to die in your place, so that you could be forgiven of your sin--a holy transaction made possible by the amazing love of God. That's the message of Christmas. We need a Savior and that's why Jesus came.

I proclaim God's love to you today. He loves you with an everlasting love that words fail to describe. And I've got to say this: If you can't look to a time when you turned from your sin and embraced Christ by faith, man, what are you waiting for?! You don't know when or even if you'll have another opportunity to embrace Christ by faith, as the Lover of your soul. Let this Christmas mark the decision that changes your life--forever. Step out of that generic understanding of love into this amazing, committed love of the Lord for each of His own children through faith in Christ. For more information, get to a church that tells you the truth about your need and God's amazing love that reaches out to meet you.

The church fellowship doesn't have to worry about me "bah-humbugging" on Christmas anymore. I've got the real joy of the season now and we raise the roof in our celebration--real joy comes from receiving the gift Jesus offers to each one of us. It's something we can't get ourselves--only a sinless God could give such a holy gift and only love would prompt the sacrifice.

I finally see Christmas for what it is--the day that love and holiness stepped into time. That's why Jesus came.