20 & 21 Dec 2025 (Pastoral Page) THE SIGN OF LOVE

by Dn Benjamin Yeap

What is a sign that you love someone?

The typical way seen on television might be a romantic dinner, a large bouquet of flowers, perhaps some extravagant jewelry. Love songs are written about how one might give up the world for their loved one. For the parents among us, maybe you tell your children “I love you”. Or perhaps you show love to your children in material ways: through providing for their basic needs, sometimes maybe indulging them with their various wants.

Our culture has taught us to associate love with visible gestures, with a bigger and grander gesture being equated with more love that is shown. God too has given us a sign of His love for us, but unlike what we are used to, this grand sign appeared in a small and meek package.

Isaiah 7:10–16 describes this sign for us: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” The name Immanuel, meaning “God with us”, is itself a promise. God never intended to love us from a distance. He sent his Son, Jesus, to live and walk among us and eventually, take our sin upon Himself so that we might be redeemed. In Jesus, God’s sign of love becomes flesh and blood. That is how God shows His love to us.

The season of Advent is a period of waiting and reflection in the lead up to Christmas. We reflect on Jesus' birth, and prepare ourselves as we wait for his second coming. In view of this, how should we respond to this sign of God’s love?

We wait with hope, trusting in God’s timing. The day and the hour of his return might be unknown, but we are told to wait vigilantly, as Jesus has promised that He will return one day. In our lives, we will face trials or challenges. It is difficult to navigate such circumstances, surrounded by uncertainty or opposition, but we are told to wait with patience and to depend on God. Do not be disheartened, but be encouraged that Immanuel is with us and present in our uncertainty. God is with us, even if the world might be against us.

We also should strive to embody God’s love towards us, by showing love to those around us. In this season of feasting and gifting, may we also notice the lonely, the hurting and the weary among us, and in turn show them the same love that God bestowed upon us. Let those around us experience our wholehearted and genuine generosity, and may we not let this generosity and kindness be seasonal, but strive to ceaselessly reflect God’s love in our lives everyday and in all we do.

As we draw near to Christmas, we are grateful for God’s sign of His love towards us, and we wait patiently for Jesus’ return.

Emmanuel, God with us

Emmanuel, King Jesus

The Savior of the world is born