Born for Love
By Anthony Casperson
12-7-24

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Risen with healing in His wings:
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth;
Born to give them second birth.

Honestly, I could’ve chosen any verse of Hark! The Herald Angels Sing to speak about the reason for Jesus’ incarnation. However, this verse reminds us that he came for a mission. A life that didn’t remain as a baby in the manger, but that continued on to a perfect life enfleshed in humanity with his focus ever on the salvation of his creation.

Born that man no more may die; born to raise the sons of earth; born to give them second birth.

The baby born thousands of years ago had a mission of love ahead of him. As the ever-famous John 3:16 reminds us, it was for love that God sent his one-and-only, unique Son so that all who place their faith in him might have everlasting life.

Love was the reason. Godly love. Not the infatuation or fading desire that love has come to mean for many of us. But the selfless choice to seek another’s benefit, in spite of the difficulties. The loyalty to the covenant that God had prepared in order to save fallen humanity. His lovingkindness that had graciously been prepared at the foundation of the world.

It’s not because of any goodness or similar trait inherent in us that he chose to save us. The mission of love that the Second Person of the Godhead underwent was simply because the entire Trinity chose to reveal his love for his creation—we who bear his image. And chose to save those of us who place our faith in him.

That’s the good news of the season. The good news of God. The good news that the angel army proclaimed that night to simple shepherds.

And the reminder of that story from Luke 2 should key us in to another amazing aspect of the mission of love.

The invitation that the Father sent for his Son’s birth into humanity went out to shepherds. Not the rich. Or the powerful. Or the most holy of people. No, God’s first proclamation went out to a bunch of lowly sheep-herders who were among the lowest of the low in their society.

Don’t misunderstand. The offer of salvation goes out to all, regardless of our gender, our ethnicity, our social standing, or any other manner in which humans divide ourselves. God’s love is literally for whosoever places their faith in him. But God makes sure that those who are in the lowly places understand they’re invited too.

People who expect to be invited to earth-shaking moments don’t need the invitation. They’ll show up. But those who are the outcast need to be told that there’s also a place for them. The rejects, the forgotten, the lonely, and the “unlovable” are just as loved by God. His invitation is sent specially to them.

By a musical telegram of herald angels singing.

The great joy that is for all people—as Luke 2:10 shows—is the fact that a Savior has come. Born for the mission of love. The Creator of the universe humbled himself to take on human flesh and dwell with us. Even the lowliest of us all.

The offer of love is open for all. Some among us might need to be reminded of the fact that we’ve been invited to participate. And we need not worry about being unpresentable or unworthy for the invitation. Since God’s love is offered without regard to our goodness, there’s no “good enough” that we have to live up to. And no “too bad” for the blood that saves.

We’re never to dirty to come to the Savior born in a manger. Never too sinful to come to the Savior who died on a cross. His love is offered to all.

And if you need the same type of special invitation that the shepherds did those millennia ago...

Hear the herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn King. Peace on earth, and mercy mild. God and sinners reconciled.”