Christmas Preparations
“Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.” (Luke 3:4 – NIV)
The whole of the Christmas season is really a time of preparation. If your family is like mine you have been involved in decorating, shopping, the sending of cards, baking, etc. The plans are being made for where you will be and with whom on Christmas eve and Christmas day. In fact, if you think about it, most of the excitement of Christmas is about all of the preparations leading up to that one day of celebration.
Do you realize that for God it was very much the same? Up until the birth of Jesus, all of history was moving towards that one glorious moment when the Son of God would become the Son of man. For centuries, God had been at work within our world to prepare for the birth of this One who would be the Savior of all mankind. God had been preparing for this one moment for hundreds, even thousands of years. Now, it had finally come! It’s no wonder that God celebrated with angels and a supernatural star. It’s no wonder he had to let at least a few persons know that they might celebrate along with him (even if it was but a handful of mere shepherds and a few Magi). The Apostle Paul put it this way, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman….” (Galatians 4:4 – NIV) That is, when the preparations were complete God sent his Son, Jesus.
Throughout the past two centuries, this period of the year has been called by Christians the Advent Season. It is supposed to be a time of preparation; a time wherein we prepare ourselves not just for the celebration that occurs on December 25th, but for the coming of Christ anew into our hearts and lives. And, it is meant to be a time wherein we prepare ourselves for his second coming into our world. Thus, each year during this time we sing, “Let every heart, prepare him room….”
In the midst of all your preparations for Christmas eve and Christmas day, be sure to take time to prepare yourself for Christ himself. Find time to worship, to pray, to simply meditate on the wonderful fact that God has sent his Son to be your Savior!
May this advent prayer be your own during this season:
Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!” (Henri Nouwan)
Have a blessed Advent Season!
-Pastor Tim Harris
The whole of the Christmas season is really a time of preparation. If your family is like mine you have been involved in decorating, shopping, the sending of cards, baking, etc. The plans are being made for where you will be and with whom on Christmas eve and Christmas day. In fact, if you think about it, most of the excitement of Christmas is about all of the preparations leading up to that one day of celebration.
Do you realize that for God it was very much the same? Up until the birth of Jesus, all of history was moving towards that one glorious moment when the Son of God would become the Son of man. For centuries, God had been at work within our world to prepare for the birth of this One who would be the Savior of all mankind. God had been preparing for this one moment for hundreds, even thousands of years. Now, it had finally come! It’s no wonder that God celebrated with angels and a supernatural star. It’s no wonder he had to let at least a few persons know that they might celebrate along with him (even if it was but a handful of mere shepherds and a few Magi). The Apostle Paul put it this way, “But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman….” (Galatians 4:4 – NIV) That is, when the preparations were complete God sent his Son, Jesus.
Throughout the past two centuries, this period of the year has been called by Christians the Advent Season. It is supposed to be a time of preparation; a time wherein we prepare ourselves not just for the celebration that occurs on December 25th, but for the coming of Christ anew into our hearts and lives. And, it is meant to be a time wherein we prepare ourselves for his second coming into our world. Thus, each year during this time we sing, “Let every heart, prepare him room….”
In the midst of all your preparations for Christmas eve and Christmas day, be sure to take time to prepare yourself for Christ himself. Find time to worship, to pray, to simply meditate on the wonderful fact that God has sent his Son to be your Savior!
May this advent prayer be your own during this season:
Lord Jesus, Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light. To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!” (Henri Nouwan)
Have a blessed Advent Season!
-Pastor Tim Harris
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