Did you know that Christmas is just right around the corner? If you haven’t already, it’s time to start that frenetic pace that most of us are so very use to this time of the year. It’s time to go shopping to find that perfect gift for our loved ones. It’s time to start going to Christmas parties on virtually every free night you have. It’s time to start going to our children’s and grandchildren’s Christmas programs at their schools. Now don’t get me wrong I enjoy all the Christmas parties and all the fellowship that is involved, not to mention the wonderful food. And I love going to my kid’s Christmas program and hear them sing and act. It just seems like there’s something going on every night.
It’s time to start cooking that favorite dish of your children and grandchildren and even the pastor. It’s time to start driving at break neck speed to visit the relatives. And we drive back home at break neck speed so we won’t be late for the Christmas party. I think you get my drift here. We all are just so BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!
Have you ever wondered if that is what God really wants us to be doing with our time during the Advent season leading up to Christmas Day and on into the New Year and Epiphany? I’m not exactly sure that’s what God really wants us to be doing anytime but especially during this most wonderful time of the year.
When God became human in the form of Jesus Christ, He did so so that we could have a relationship with Him. In the busyness of our lives, that relationship sometimes takes a back seat.
The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival.” The focus of the entire season is the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Christ in his First Advent, and the anticipation of the return of Christ the King in his Second Advent. Thus, Advent is far more than simply marking a 2,000 year old event in history. It is celebrating a truth about God, the revelation of God in Christ whereby all of creation might be reconciled to God. That is a process in which we now participate, and the consummation of which we anticipate.
In preparing for the arrival of Jesus, we need to pause from all the busyness that we “think” we have to be involved in and reflect on the First Advent, the birth of Christ, and ready ourselves for the Second Advent when Christ returns.
I found the following while searching the Internet for Advent material:
10 Christmas Commandments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Anonymous
“The following item appeared in a church newsletter and contains some good advice that will help us keep selfishness in check this Christmas:
- You shall not leave ‘Christ’ out of Christmas, making it ‘Xmas.’ To some, ‘X’ is unknown.
- You shall prepare your soul for Christmas. Spend not so much on gifts that your soul is forgotten.
- You shall not let Santa Claus replace Christ, thus robbing the day of its spiritual reality.
- You shall not burden the shop girl, the mailman, and the merchant with complaints and demands.
- You shall give yourself with your gift. This will increase its value a hundred fold, and the one who receives it shall treasure it forever.
- You shall not value gifts received by their cost. Even the least expensive may signify love, and that is more priceless than silver and gold.
- You shall not neglect the needy. Share your blessings with many who will go hungry and cold if you are generous.
- You shall not neglect your church. Its services highlight the true meaning of the season.
- You shall be as a little child. Not until you become in spirit as a little one are you ready to enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
- You shall give your heart to Christ. Let Him be at the top of your Christmas list.
Anyone keeping these commandments is sure to have a blessed Christmas.”
May we all pause from our busyness to recognize and receive the greatest gift ever given: the gift of God’s Son, Jesus Christ.
Pastor Andy
