Advent: the arrival
of something important. Last week we
contemplated the challenge of waiting well.
As we continue through Advent, considering what we are waiting for will
fill us with joy! Christmas marks the
coming of the Savior, the arrival of God Himself. He did not look like the King most
expected. He was overlooked by the very
ones who should have known Him best.
That which we ‘know’ sometimes deceives us—we need, like Zachariah, a
time of silence that will lead us to praise!
Zachariah was a devout believer and servant of God, yet when
given the glorious news of John’s impending arrival, earthly reality dimmed his
joy with doubt. His period of silence
ended as he reiterated the angel’s message and began rejoicing in God’s
inimitable ways. Finding quiet to
contemplate the joy we are waiting for is vital to truly appreciate the arrival
of the King!
In Romans 8, Paul speaks of waiting for the hope we not
see. Biblical hope, confident assurance
of God’s good plans, can be waited for with eagerness when patience has
developed in our hearts.
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for what
we do not see, through patience we wait eagerly.
Patience is even more difficult for us than waiting! There are some beautiful truths to unpack in
contemplating patience though. It is a
fruit of the spirit we cannot produce by trying harder. Just as a farmer cannot make seeds sprout by
pacing along the edge of the field, we cannot produce patience by stressing
over its absence. Patience is best seen
in contrast to what it is not. Cowardice
and despondency stand in stark contrast to the beauty of patience. Courage to press on past fear and
discouragement shines forth in patience.
Wrath and revenge lash out while patience presses humbly forward. Christian character is brought to completion
by patience, but patience is delivered only by Christ. That is the advent we are to eagerly wait
for—the advent we are to point others toward:
Jesus Christ!
Patience (quiet, joyful waiting) testifies to the arrival of
what we have been waiting for: the
unseen hope. Receiving the strength of Jesus, allowing Him
room in our hearts, will dispel doubt and discouragement. It will allow us to
wait with joyful eagerness. Rather than rely on what we already ‘know’ and
‘do’, let us quietly consider the coming King.
Humbleness that recognizes our need for more than what we have makes
room for His arrival. Prepare room for
Jesus in your days…not just in the Advent season but all year long. His desire is for daily communion, moment by
moment appreciation for His arrival!
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