The whole point of Advent is to acknowledge the wait. Technically, we are waiting for Christmas. We are waiting to celebrate the birth of Christ. But it's so much more than that. Or at least it should be.
It is a time to acknowledge that we are waiting for the Messiah. It is a time to say, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus!" It is a time to live with bated breath and eager readiness. We are not simply acknowledging that He came two thousand years ago; we are acknowledging that He is coming again.
Does your home reflect this waiting? I know that my children are thrilled to sing Happy Birthday Jesus and think about a wee babe in a manger. And to get gifts and sing carols. But I want them to understand the true celebration.
We are a bride, waiting for a bridegroom who is being restrained by His Father. The Father is saying, "Not yet, my Son."
Because we are not ready. He is returning for a Bride without spot and blemish. He is returning for the Church who has preached the Gospel in every corner, who has sent out the call of salvation and who has lived sacrificially with an eye on eternity. He is waiting for every last heart that is ready to turn to Him. Then, and only then, will the Father release the Bridegroom.
Until that moment, He is at home in heaven. Waiting. And we are here ... in our home ... waiting. I want our home to reflect that. We are not sitting on our laurels whiling away the time. We are waiting -- readying our own hearts to receive Him for eternity -- reaching out to everyone we can, living out His great love for them -- not holding on to things but instead laying it all down to pick up a Cross -- waiting for Him to come and bring us home.
It is a time to acknowledge that we are waiting for the Messiah. It is a time to say, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus!" It is a time to live with bated breath and eager readiness. We are not simply acknowledging that He came two thousand years ago; we are acknowledging that He is coming again.
Does your home reflect this waiting? I know that my children are thrilled to sing Happy Birthday Jesus and think about a wee babe in a manger. And to get gifts and sing carols. But I want them to understand the true celebration.
We are a bride, waiting for a bridegroom who is being restrained by His Father. The Father is saying, "Not yet, my Son."
WHY???
Because we are not ready. He is returning for a Bride without spot and blemish. He is returning for the Church who has preached the Gospel in every corner, who has sent out the call of salvation and who has lived sacrificially with an eye on eternity. He is waiting for every last heart that is ready to turn to Him. Then, and only then, will the Father release the Bridegroom.
Until that moment, He is at home in heaven. Waiting. And we are here ... in our home ... waiting. I want our home to reflect that. We are not sitting on our laurels whiling away the time. We are waiting -- readying our own hearts to receive Him for eternity -- reaching out to everyone we can, living out His great love for them -- not holding on to things but instead laying it all down to pick up a Cross -- waiting for Him to come and bring us home.
Please join us for: THE 25 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
Thanks to Rhonda Jewell for the photo! Click the image to go see more of her stunning work.
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