I hate to admit this but I put the Christmas lights up on our house this past Saturday - 5 days before Thanksgiving!! I have rationalized it by noting that it is the only Saturday I have free but down deep its probably because I look forward to Christmas - putting lights up just seems to bring it that much closer... Anticipation ... longing...
Advent means "coming" and as we celebrate the Advent Season we are supposed to reflect on the Lord's first advent and look forward to His 2nd advent. Upon His arrival as a baby, very few were found looking and longing for it and I suspect (if my own heart is any indication) that the same is true concerning His 2nd advent. Titus 2:11,12 tells us to be "looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus." At Christmas it is great to celebrate His 1st coming and the redemption it brought us, but Christmas should be an encouragement to be looking ahead, to develop a longing for His soon return. I find it difficult to develop that kind of a heart because this immediate world is so tangible and dominates my senses. How can we see past all that? I would suggest as a starting point to actively look for His work right now - pay attention to His present movement in your life. Secondly, make time for worship - mark out small sabbath moments in your day to stop everything and lift Him up. A longing for and anticipation of His return grows from a greater focus on Him today.
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