It’s hard to believe that here we are at the close of another year with Christmas only a few days away. I have noticed that for the past few weeks preparations for Christmas have been well underway. Retailers have begun running Christmas advertisements and sales even as early as shortly after Labor Day. It seems as if people are putting up their Christmas Tree and decorating their homes and yards even earlier this year. All of this in preparation for Christmas. However, I can’t help but wonder, as believers, are we making the best and proper preparations during this season of the Advent of Jesus? The word advent means appearing, arrival, or coming. I am afraid that for many of us we get caught up in the decorations, the lights, the shopping, the parties, and many other happenings connected with our Christmas celebrations. Unfortunately, we oftentimes become so busy with all the activities taking place in our churches during this season, we fail to prepare ourselves for the true meaning of Jesus’ Advent.
I want to share two ways we can prepare our hearts and lives to truly celebrate the Advent of Jesus:
- We should prepare by looking backward with earnest appreciation at Christ’s First Coming. Our hearts should be filled with a deep appreciation, “That God so loved us,” He sent His Son Jesus to save us and place us in His forever family and one glorious day get to spend all of eternity with Him in Heaven. May we focus with appreciation on the words of Luke 2:11, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.”
- We should prepare by looking forward with eager anticipation to His Second Advent. As we focus during the Christmas Season on the Baby born in Bethlehem, it is paramount that we have an eager anticipation that Jesus is coming again. In Titus 2:13, we find these words, “Looking for that blessed hope and glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.” Be assured that one day Jesus is coming in great power and glory!
So, as we make preparations for Christmas, don’t neglect to prepare your heart with appreciation for His First Coming as Savior and in anticipation of His Coming again as King of Kings.
May you and your family have a very Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Marcille and me!
Bro. Wendell
Matthew 1:21