It’s possible, especially this time of the year, Christmas, to feel alone. On study, I saw reported in Psychology Today noted that 40% of Americans describe themselves as lonely. It’s true that even amidst the get-togethers, crowded malls, Christmas services, one can feel lonely in a crowd. That’s why I am so thankful that God has offered us to exchange our detachment for His love. It’s important to remember that when we exchange gifts with God, He will always give us the grandeur gift, and that’s a good thing.
Let me acknowledge from the beginning that the word detached is an unusual word. It might help by looking at the words meaning. The definition of detached is “not connected” or “separate.” Simply put, detached is being alone. All of us know what it is like to be alone. However, in the same Psychology Today report I referred to earlier, an estimated 20% of Americans deal with chronic loneliness. So detachment is a big deal.
You may ask, “Why is the exchange for detachment love?” To answer this, we must look at one of the words for love in Greek. One of the words for love in Greek is “agape.” Agape love is self-giving love. What is interesting about agape love is that the giving is not determined by what the one loved desires but by what the one who loves deems as needed by the loved.
What does this look like? One of the best-known verses in the Bible, in fact, the one verse that summarizes the Bible, speaks of agape love. Of course, I am speaking of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.”
We read that “God so loved the world that He gave.” What did He give? God did not provide what people necessarily wanted but what God perceived they needed. God’s love for people is God doing what He thinks is best for us and not what we desire. I would guess that many people believe they know what they need, what’s best for them. They may say, “I need more money.” Or, “I need a spouse.” Even “I need a Big Mac.” I don’t know. Maybe you do. But, they are not your greatest need.
God gave His only Son. God’s gift to the world was not what people believed they needed but what they needed. God’s loving gift was a child. Thus, we discover these words in Isaiah 9:6, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Now, that is a gift.
God gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. What is being spoken of here in John 3:16 and Isaiah 9:6? We discover a great truth and exchange that needs to take place. God created men and women to have a personal relationship with Him. God desires for this relationship to be centered on love. He wants to show His love to each and every one of us and have us show our love for Him.
The problem is that sin (disobeying God’s divine will for us) separates us from God. The good news is that God took care of sin, our sin dilemma, by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to live a perfect life then die on a cross so that a person’s sin could be forgiven, allowing us to exchange our detachment for His love.
How do we exchange our detachment for God’s love? It is not enough to simply know: (1) that God loves you, (2) that your sins keep you from the love of God, and (3) that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross saves you and offers you life as well as eternity in paradise. You must accept the loving gift of life from God. This life-giving relationship is only possible when you believe, trust, have faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. This is what it means to exchange our being detached for love and salvation in Christ. This is what it means to begin a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. John 3:16 declares, “whoever believes:” We must believe to receive.
So, where would you place yourself? Are you detached, or have you received the Love of God? If you are detached from God, do you see anything keeping you from placing your faith in Christ and receiving His love and salvation right now? Accepting God’s loving gift of salvation is like receiving any gift. If I were to offer you a gift right now, when would it become yours? It would become yours not when I offered it, but once you received it. Salvation, a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ, is the same. Christ’s loving gift of salvation is yours when you receive it by faith. You don’t have to be detached any longer; exchange it for God’s love. Now that’s a Christmas gift you will never forget. Soli Deo Gloria (Glory to God Alone)!