BREAK

It isn't that you love God.

People get confused by that, but the story of the Gospel isn't about you discovering God.  It isn't about you searching for God.  It isn't about you loving God.  It's about God's love your direction.

At the center of our lives is one decision we each must make -- one question that must be answered:  Is God good - does He love you - is He willing to provide everything you need for a great life?
Or, Is God not good - does He not love you - so do you have to take what you need to make it?

In other words, trust God - or - trust you.

That was the choice Adam and Eve had to make in the Garden.  They decided to trust themselves and make their own way.  As a result the Bible says they - and we - basically said:  "I like this better than I like You, God.  I want this more than I want You."

And if you scroll through the pages of the Bible right after that, you see the story of humanity unfolding -- racism, favoritism, pride, selfishness, sexual sin, dishonesty, anger -- it's all there.

The Gospel isn't about you loving God.  It's about God's love your direction.

And it becomes who we are -- people who break things.  We break promises, we break trust, we break other people.  The Bible calls that sin.

Even with all that, God still came for us.  He said, "I'll purse you.  I'll chase after you.  I'll love you even when you don't love Me.'  And He sent His only son into the world to save us from our sin and from ourselves.

That's the whole amazing story of the Bible and it's the beautiful story of Christmas, that God pursues you, and that He loves you very, very much.

And be blessed.