Sarah & I would like to share with you one of our "first" traditions (if we can call it a tradition yet). We decided to get an Advent calendar for our Christmas season! 1. Because I don't remember the last time I ever went through an Advent calendar 2. Because it's cool and we live in Seattle 3. Because it's biblical (thought I should add this one). We are celebrating Advent, because the word means "coming," and reminds Sarah & I of the best "coming" there ever was! The arrival of our Rescuer, Jesus Christ!
December 24th! Day 24! One more day till Christmas!
Will tomorrow be a day that Sarah and I celebrate Jesus, or a day we ignore Him for many other distractions going on? In the second part of John's account of Jesus' coming, which we read today, John answers this question in what he writes to the people of his time.
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us... He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God."
John 1:14, 10-13
The truth is, many in the world and many within Jesus' own community despised Him, rejecting Him and His message. They did not want to hear Jesus' words...
But Jesus' message was to bring joy and hope and laughter, inviting all to come to Him for life. Instead, His message offended a lot of people. The world did not know Him, ...and His own people did not receive Him (v. 10-11) For the irreligious, they didn't want to be told that they were in rebellion, since they were proud of their own achievements. For the religious, they didn't want to be told that they couldn't clean themselves up, since they were proud of their own righteousness.
But Jesus came with good news to all! For the rebellious who run away, He was the good shepherd who would come after them; and for the morally good who didn't think they needed help, He was their freedom from constant failure and guilt.
Jesus still calls out, "To all who receive Me..." (v. 12)
Everyone needs a Savior; everyone needs forgiveness from their sin. His message is not exclusive but inclusive. To all who receive Him! This promise isn't temporal, unreliable or mysterious. It doesn't come from a man but from God. He has promised and He will make it come to pass. Receive Him today and become a child of God, a son or daughter of the King of kings :-)
By God's grace alone Sarah and I have received Jesus, so tomorrow will be a day we celebrate His coming! Our hearts will be filled with great gratitude for all that He has done and continues to do for us!
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Colossians 1:15-20
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