By Paul 
There is something strangely moving about watching a snowman go to extraordinary lengths to procure a hat and gloves for his beloved snowwife. Of course said blandly like that it sounds unimpressive but the makers of the John Lewis advert for this Christmas have captured beautifully the idea that love can drive us to perform acts of great bravery and sacrifice for others. In a similar way if I merely talk about Christmas being the celebration of Jesus come to earth it can sound like a divine sightseeing tour or something of supreme indifference. But nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus not only gives up the splendour of heaven, he not only endures hardship , rejection and ultimately death at the hands of his creation, he does it because love was his goal. As a christian I increasingly find the self giving love of Christ to be something that profoundly moves me. My best friend comes into this world to find me and save me. My best friend endures all kinds of rejection, abuse and danger because he loves me. And yes that will change the way I behave towards others but first of all it must change the way I think about him.
2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (ESV)
Watch the ad and think of what lengths Christ has gone to for you.