Are You Prepared For Christmas?
Good Morning Friends,
People keep asking me today’s question, so I thought I would pose it to you for I do not know if I will be able to get all my shopping done or not, before time runs out. I do not know if I will be able to attend all the events I want to attend. But I do hope that I am ready in attitude. And yes, I realize it is more blessed to give than to receive, but if there is ever a time when we need to learn to accept, hear, sense and gather, it is during Advent. So, I hope I am ready for the real spirit of Christmas to come and I hope you also are prepared to receive. Are You Prepared For Christmas?
Scriptures: The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.” Therefore, the days are surely coming, says the Lord, when it shall no longer be said, “As the Lord lives who brought the people of Israel up out of the land of Egypt,” but “As the Lord lives who brought out and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the land of the north and out of all the lands where he had driven them.” Then they shall live in their own land.
Jeremiah 23:5-8 (NRSV)
Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. He did not humble himself before the prophet Jeremiah who spoke from the mouth of the Lord.
2 Chronicles 36:11-12 (NRSV)
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.
Matthew 1:18-25 (NRSV)
Message: Well I guess if we are really going to be ready for Christmas we will have to understand what it is we are anticipating in the first place for it is a celebration of the first coming of God in the flesh and an anticipation of the second coming of the King of Creation as well. But the great hope for Israel and for us as well is the strong forgiveness of God given to us on a cross even more so than the hope in a crib. Maybe it is right to think of a righteous oak tree and the nature of the Davidic Branch. It is so much like the birth of Jesus more than a decorated Evergreen Christmas Tree. The prophet Jeremiah uses the image of a righteous Branch growing out of a felled tree. Just when the tree of David seems to be left without hope, without offspring, this Branch emerges to establish justice and righteousness in the world. At a time when it seemed that the kingdom of Judah was being cut to its very roots, there could be no greater reassurance. Interestingly today’s lectionary passage from Jeremiah was given originally during the reign of Zedekiah, the last king of Judah. And get this, Zedekiah, means My righteousness is the LORD. Now this is somewhat ironic since it is on record that Zedekiah did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet to hear God’s Word. So, we have a deliberate play on words, for the name of the rightful king in Jeremiah’s prophecy, the one who brings salvation, and a safe dwelling place for His people is the LORD our righteousness. This King is Jesus, and He becomes our righteousness – making us righteous – when we are humble enough to put our trust in Him. Here our very faith in Jesus is what makes us righteous. Here a little baby begins to change everything. And so, it is in this spirit that we set aside this time of the year to prepare our hearts for worship but also to receive the message of love that God has sent to us through His Son Jesus, so we might be prepared for the Second Advent.
Pray we are ready to celebrate the incarnation of Christ. Pray we are living in anticipation of the Righteous King who came and will come again. Pray with humility and hope we will receive the gift of forgiveness before Jesus is again sent to complete the prophecy. Pray for restoration. Pray for salvation. Pray for resurrection. Pray we realize that it is really a joy to all nations that Christ was born, not as a great scientist, or economist or entertainer but as one bringing what the world needed most… forgiveness. Pray therefor for forgiveness offered and received this Christmas. Pray we realize that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of prophecy but also of the promise of love. Pray we are prepared for both Advents.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 