December 3 - Preparation

Advent Reflection: Day 3

PREPARATION

As I was reading yesterday morning, I reflected on the Christmas preparations that have been happening all around me.  Parades, decorations, shopping, parties, inundate us with the message that the “day” will soon be here, and we need to get ready.

What a contrast between the world’s preparation for Christmas and the preparation for the arrival of our Savior over two thousand years ago. The angel appeared to a seemingly young woman with shocking news. Yet we know that was the plan that God had from the beginning. A humble virgin chosen to be the mother of Jesus. Her bewildered betrothed, visited by an angel with instructions on his part in the plan to prepare for the arrival of the Son of God. Nothing on the news, nothing on social media, no lights, no tinsel just two ordinary people trying to follow God’s instructions for their lives.

With all of our preparations, gift buying, wrapping, cooking, creating, and more, the day will be over very quickly. The decorations will be put away, the gifts will be used, worn, broken, tossed aside, and soon forgotten.

In contrast, the gift that God sent, His only son Jesus, His arrival was only the beginning of what would radically and permanently change our world.

During this season, I am committed to preparing my heart. I am looking for God to do something new in me. In fact, I know He will.  I believe that in this season of reflection, repentance, and renewal that God continues to burst in to our lives in both small and large ways.

I have been thinking about the song, "Come Thou Long Expected Jesus" written by Charles Wesley almost three hundred years ago. He considered the state of suffering around him, penning these words as a prayer.

“Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set Thy people free.

From our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel's strength and consolation, hope of all the earth Thou art.

Dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

Here we are all these years later and the cry of our hearts is still the same. So, whatever situation you find yourself in today my friend, He continues to draw us with love.

While the words below may be mine from 2021, the message is the same as in 1744.

Come today Jesus.

I invite you into the thoughts that keep me enslaved to my past.

I invite you into situations where I am a captive of fear.

I invite you into habits where sin keeps me a prisoner.

I invite you into the weariness of my soul.

I invite you into my weaknesses and my disappointments.

I invite you into circumstances where I have no hope.

I invite you into the places where I have forgotten the meaning of true joy.

Amen.

Luke 1:30-31

³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.