If one word encapsulates the Advent of Jesus Christ, it is love.  If we spoke NT Greek, then the word would be agape.  The coming of the Christ to this lowly planet was nothing less than an act of agape.  We like to quote John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."  Of course, there is also Romans 5:8, "God demonstrated His own love for us in this, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  It was for this very purpose that the Son of God came into the world, to die as a Passover Lamb, and so taking "away the sin of the world."  How does such a gruesome act amount to love? 

Jesus answered this question when He taught that there is no greater act of love than for a friend to give his or her life so that another might live.  Jesus came to do just that, to lay down His own life in order to placate the wrath of God against our sin, and in so doing atoning for (covering, taking away) our sin and giving us "peace with God".  In sending Jesus to die on the cross, God showed just how much He values us.  Without Christ, we are still subject to His wrath, but God has opened the door to Himself in the sacrifice of His Son, so that through Him we can approach God.  Everyone who believes this message is a member of God's family. 

God loves you where ever you are, whoever you are, whatever you've done.  That is why He sent Christ to die in your place, so that through Him you can be rescued from God's wrath against sin, and made holy.  Do you have to make sacrifices?  Absolutely.  Will it be a quick cure for all your problems?  Absolutely not.  Yet, whatever you have to give up (habits, beliefs, etc.) is worth the glory that awaits the follower of Christ.  Likewise, the troubles of life are nothing in light of eternal life in God's kingdom.