For the first time this year, I’ve realized that Advent is
so much more than just lighting candles on a wreath and remembering the gift of
Jesus’ birth so long ago. Though the Christmas story has always seemed
beautiful and I’ve cherished it, it’s felt like a story of people far away. My
heart has always desired to be connected, but struggled to find it. Then, this year, I read this introduction to an advent
devotional that finally feels like it’s brought this Christmas season near to
my heart….
“The King is coming. Jesus Christ has comeand will come again. This is the hope
of the Church whom He purchased with His blood. Jesus’ coming is the eager
expectation and desire of His people. It is our joy because He is our treasure
and greatest good. This is the theme of “Advent”, formed from a Latin word
meaning “coming” or “arrival”. It’s the traditional celebration of the first
advent of Jesus in humility and the
anxious awaiting of His second advent in glory. The season is a time for
remembering and rejoicing, watching and waiting.” ((The
Village Church Advent Devotional))
I’ve never connected the celebration of Jesus’ first coming
at Christmas to His second coming, which has yet to come. But when I read this,
suddenly the Christmas story feels so much closer and more connected to my
world.
Remember November?
Remember Paris? Mali? Colorado shootings? My
heart is weary.
Loved ones with
cancer, death, homelessness, addictions...
My heart is weary.
My own sin of
selfishness and pride…My heart is weary.
Though the things that made Mary and Joseph and their
friends weary may have looked different, there is no doubt they were weary and
looking to be rescued. The Israelites had waited since the beginning of time,
since Adam & Eve, to be saved. Their people had been slaves in Egypt,
wandered the desert 40 years, were ruled by unjust and ungodly kings, and had
given themselves over to all sorts of idols for so long. Yet by faith, they still
believed their God would rescue them and send a Savior. Can you imagine waiting
so long to be rescued?
Here I am, 2000 years after the coming of our Savior, and my
heart STILL longs for Him to return. When I think how weary my heart is and how
I long for Jesus to return again, I realize what a sweet joy and miracle it
must have been on the first Christmas, when Jesus was born. Remember what it
feels like as a child to anxiously anticipate Christmas morning? Remember the
excitement of when it finally came? I can only imagine that Jesus finally
arriving must have been like a million bajillion times more exciting. As the Christmas song says, its was a time of "weary hearts rejoicing."
So this year, the Advent season has been a time of me
reflecting on the gift that I’ve already been given in Christ and reminding my
weary heart to continue to have faith and hope that Jesus will come again. And
it isn’t even just that He will come again once and for all to rule, but that
He can come again and again and again into the weary hearts of those around
me—to bring hope and salvation and new life. We wait for His second coming, but we no longer need to wait
for His arrival as our Savior. That’s a gift that’s already been given to us
who believe and available to any who seek God’s face.
Thank you Lord that you gave us the gift of Jesus! Thank you that He
came and led us out of captivity, to freedom in You. I pray Lord, would you
come again and let this weary world rejoice.
{{I’m realizing more and more that I LOVE to share the
things that I LOVE. My poor husband listens to me go on and on about my
favorite things. So this Christmas season, I’d like to gift you with the
knowledge of 3 of these things, only one of which relates to this post: 1) These
Sketchers shoes make me feel like I’m walking on air. 2) This
magical Tea Infuser & 3) Lauren Daigle singing Noel & Light of the World (This
is the one that relates to the post J) Enjoy! Merry Christmas friends!}}
