Preparing to Receive the Gift
Most of us are preparing for Christmas right now and possibly the coming of family members to share the celebration. We are in the midst of decorating, shopping, cooking and cleaning. Somewhere in the background there is this nagging feeling that we have forgotten to do something….
John says he was sent to prepare for the coming of Christ.
He was sent to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He says he is a voice reminding people to make straight the path for the Lord.
Have you put any Christmas lights up? Maybe you decided it’s just too much trouble and bother. Did you ever think of them as part of your witness?
The world is in spiritual darkness. They need to see a reminder that He is the light of the world. Until they know Christ they remain “unenlightened”.
The angelic message came to the shepherds at night… when it was dark, when there was not much hope in their world. It still is a message for the dark night of the soul.
Have you sung any Christmas songs? Joy to the World reminds us to, ”prepare-uh Him-im ro-oo-om.” Is there any room in your schedule for a little joy FOR the world?
You could be the voice of hope and joy for someone who is having a rough time right now. There have been several recent deaths in our church charge and also in the community of Littleton. Call, send cards, invite the bereaved to go to Christmas programs with you. God can turn their mourning into joy.
At Christmas we tend to think back to Bethlehem.. when the Infinite became an infant. Jesus was sent to us to grow up in this world and face the harsh realities of sin and death. He overcame sin by his sinless life, perfectly keeping all of the law. Then he overcame death by his physical resurrection from the dead.
We light the advent wreath to remind us that Christ is coming to the earth again, this time as our triumphant King.
We indeed have something to which we can look forward with great anticipation.
Once a woman frantically bought a box of 50 identical Christmas cards so she could get them in the mail on time.
She hastily opened each card and signed her name without bothering to read what was printed inside.
Several days after they had been mailed, she came across one leftover card and discovered to her dismay that the message read:
“This card is sent just to say, a special gift is on the way.”
Perhaps that is the best message we could each write inside our Christmas cards!
John wanted us to know that the “special gift” of the incarnate Christ is on His way to us.
Last week I ran across an article about a mother of two autistic children. She said they LIVE for what’s coming, so she discovered that writing out a daily schedule helps them have peace. They live by calendars, dates and watches….no surprises please!
They need something to help them understand what is between now and the thing they are waiting to happen.
Christians have always been like that. From the earliest disciples the questions continually bombarded Christ, …
Why are you going away? When are you coming back? How will we know the signs of your coming?
Jesus’s answer was always the same: I don’t know, but I promise I will return and whenever it is, will you be ready?
Second Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
So, why is he waiting? He is waiting for you!
Getting ready for Christ’s return means believing in Him and letting him cleanse your heart. After that, you are ready to cast all your care upon Him. His peace will be in your heart and you will look forward to his coming with great hope.
"In late 18th century Poland, the Kaiser’s forces were burning all the Jewish villages. One village had been burned and nothing was left standing. As the sun came up the next morning an old Jewish gentlemen pounded a few boards together, made a sellers stall and opened it up for business.
A young man walked passed, stared in disbelief and asked,
"What are you selling among these ruins?”
The man smiled and said, "I am selling hope.”
You can sell water in a dry desert, so the place to sell hope is on the ash heap of destruction.
God wants us to give hope to this world. He wants us to be people of hope who see beyond the brokenness and offer a measure of his grace to comfort the hurting people we encounter.
We are all called, even as John was, that we might be a voice crying in the wilderness of despair around us so that people might know Christ, the precious gift of life that God has given freely to all.
Each of us is probably familiar with the poem by Edward Markham, "How the Great Guest Came."
It seems appropriate to share it again this morning:
"An old cobbler named Conrad had a dream that the Lord was coming to visit him. So he washed the walls of his small shop and his shelves until they shined. He decorated his shop with holly and fir. He put milk and honey on his table to offer to his special guest. He sat down and waited.
As he was waiting, he saw a poor barefoot beggar walking in the rain outside his door. He felt sorry for the man and invited him in and gave him a pair of shoes. His clean floor was now dirty from the rain and mud.
As he was about to clean it up, he noticed an old lady who was bent over carrying a heavy load of firewood. He invited her in to sit and rest, shared some of his food with her and walked with her, helping carry some of the wood.
When he returned to his shop, he thought of all that needed to be done. He began to clean again and hoped he had time to find more food.
Just then came a knock at the door. He answered hurriedly and it was a small child… crying, lost and cold. He picked up the child, dried the tears, gave her a cup of milk to drink and walked her to her home down the street and around the corner.
He hurried back to the shop. He was too tired now to clean or find more food but he still waited. Evening came and he began to wonder if the Lord had forgotten.
Then he heard a soft voice break the silence in his shop,
’Lift up your heart, for I kept my word.
Three times I came to your friendly door,
Three times my shadow was on your floor.
I was the beggar with bruised feet;
I was the woman you gave to eat,
I was the lost child on that homeless street."
“For in as much as you have done it unto one of the least of these, you have done it unto me.”
While you are waiting for Christmas, maybe you can BE Christmas for someone and show them the love and care they need.
After all, what does a “waiter” do? They serve!
We are living in the pause while all of heaven is holding its breath and waiting.
Christ is coming again!
Good news…he has a gift for you….according to Isaiah 61:10 it is “garments of salvation and a robe of righteousness” which fits you perfectly for heaven!
And according to I Thessalonians 5 we are to …”Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks…hold on to the good, avoid every kind of evil and the God of peace will sanctify you and make your whole spirit soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That is how you are prepared to receive the gift of His return!
