"Lord, Prepare Us For Your Advent”

It’s estimated that a record 80 million Americans traveled 50 miles or more over the Thanksgiving Holiday this year. Of course, the majority (a record 71.7 million) of those traveled by car. But today they anticipate that a record-breaking 3 million people will travel by air.

Yes, travel plans have become a big part of our annual holiday season. From Thanksgiving through the New Year I imagine that most of us will travel to see family or friends, or to just get away for a while. I want you to take a moment and think about how you interact with those you are going to see, or with those who are coming to see you over the holidays. Whether by email, text, or snail mail you will likely make some “travel plans” as we say.

Depending on your relationship with the person your correspondence will likely include some plans for your time together. And you will probably express your anticipation for seeing this loved one, or friend. Let me give you a couple of examples of what this conversation might sound like. “Hello, mom and dad. Can’t wait to see you guys. The kids are super excited to see grandpa and grandma! We’re looking forward to helping you set up the Christmas tree.” Or with a friend it may sound like this. “Hey, I have a couple days of over Christmas, and I have some airline miles I need to cash in. Let’s get together for some skiing in Colorado. Looking forward to seeing you.” Again, I realize your particular travel plans aren’t going to be the same as others. But there are some things our plans have in common. We express our anticipation of seeing the person, we make plans for our travel, and for our time together with the person we are going to see.

Travel plans. In our Second Reading for today we heard some travel plans that the Apostle Paul made to go and see the Christians in the Greek City of Thessalonica. He declared his love for them in Christ, and his deep desire to see them and spend time with them. Paul also described what he wanted to do for them when he visited.

These verses also describe our Savior’s travel plans for his Advent—his coming to us. On this First Sunday of Advent, we recall the fact that we annually celebrate “three Advents.” We remember Jesus first Advent when he was born in Bethlehem and served as our Savior. We enjoy his current Advent to us as he comes through His Word and Sacraments into our hearts and lives. And finally, we look ahead to Jesus’s future Advent when he will return as King of kings and Lord of lords on the Last Day. As we direct our attention to 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13 and hear of his travel plans let’s make this our prayer to Jesus, our Advent King:

“LORD, PREPARE US FOR YOUR ADVENT”

I. Deepen our faith

II. Increase our love

III. Keep us faithful

In our recent study of the Book of Acts as the focus of our Sunday morning Bible study we learned that the Apostle Paul was forced to leave the City of Thessalonica because of persecution. That has led some to say that the word “persecution” is a great way to summarize this whole letter. The Holy Spirit breathed a divine message of encouragement into Paul. He wanted them to take comfort and hope in God’s love. And he reminded the Christians in Thessalonica of Jesus’ promise to return on the Last Day. Jesus would come to rescue them from all suffering and persecution. Jesus would reward their faith, make them perfect, resurrect them from the dead, and sanctify them. They needed to be prepared every day for Jesus to return. He didn’t want them to be caught by surprise with no faith in their hearts and no fruits of faith in their lives. This same message is meant for us. Paul reminds us to ask the Lord Jesus to prepare us for his Advent—his Advent to us this December and his Advent on the Last Day.

I.

The first thought that the Apostle Paul expressed in his travel plans to see the Thessalonians was his desire to deepen their faith. “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.” How would Paul accomplish that goal to “supply what is lacking in your faith” when he visited the Thessalonians? He would bring them Jesus’ Word and Jesus’ body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. That would deepen their faith.