Recently I saw a survey on the internet (one of those pop up devices, you know…) that shot questions at me for as long as I stayed on the site. Have you decorated your house yet? Are you 25% done with your holiday shopping? 50%? 75%? Have you prepared your Christmas Cards? As I watched the questions appear, I heard the urgency: “Pay attention….time is short….you need to get ready!” The countdown to Christmas begins earlier every year, at least in the society of the world. The children of God are in the midst of all that frenzy, and in truth we may have been affected by that frenzy for weeks (at least at some level). Now, in Advent, we are blessed with scripture lessons assigned for the season that help us maintain our focus upon eternal realities. Consider the following reading from 2 Peter.
12Therefore I intend to keep on reminding you of these things, though you know them already and are established in the truth that has come to you…19 we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation, 21because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.
This is a divine reminder list. Centered upon the belief of what we already know as the Truth, and established upon the foundation of faith, we benefit from fine-tuning our attention in any way necessary to eliminate anything that mutes the everlasting prophecy of scripture. Check the list….Read it twice (or more)! Be reminded that the power of scripture rests in reading scripture not only with your mind, but by then savoring it in your heart and allowing the Holy Spirit to move you as God speaks!
This time of Advent is a time of approach. Unlike society's Holiday approach that escalates in urgency, we are invited to embrace this time as an opportunity to S...L....O.....W...D....O....W....N. Watch. Wait. Preparing for the moment of the birth of Christ in the time and space of the world…your life…YOUR HEART is all about becoming increasingly open, still, silent and aware of the gift that will meet you with laser precise Truth and Light. We are reminded to slow down as the power of the Lord approaches in Christ's birth.
The Advent scriptures can generate a list of questions similar to those prompted by the Holiday Countdown questions. Have you cleared out your mind and heart to receive Christ (again)? Where are the dark places that yearn for the light of the morning star, which is Christ? Will you open the darkness of your life to Christ and His mission? In what ways are you clinging to YOUR will (that is, the deception that you can know on your own what is “best” for you and your life)?
Only 20 Advent Days left til Christmas! May your Advent participation in holy preparations be blessed!
1 comment:
I wonder if it would make a difference for people if they struggled with the q uestion I hope to pose to my congregation this sunday. I wonder if it makes any difference for us to be preparing for Christmas with all that has come to mean in our culture and preparing for the coming of Jesus? Would we prepare differently? Don't know?>
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