For I know the plans I
have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to
give you a future and a hope.
This weekend I had the privilege of
being present while several children visited Santa Claus. As they sat on
Santa's lap, Jolly Old Saint Nick would ask them: "What do you want for
Christmas"? As I watched these children respond, two particular children
stood out because of their total opposite responses. When the first girl was
asked by Santa what she wanted, she responded: "Whatever you bring me will be fine". When the
second girl was asked, she responded
with true decision and preparation, and even gave Santa a page from an
advertisement that had her actual request (along with the inventory number) on
it and left it with Santa.
Beloved, both these answers were good in the following ways:
The young girl that stated anything would be fine left her choice up to someone
else in the trust that whatever was delivered would fit the intended need. The
young girl with the advertisement clipping came prepared to ask for what she
wanted.
Beloved as we approach Christmas I believe that we can glean
something from both these young people:
- Whatever
God delivers to us will be just what we need: The people that first
awaited the Messiah believed that he would come like a military general to
defeat those in power and to free those in bondage. Instead, the Messiah
came as a baby that would fulfill the role of the "Suffering
Servant" that would free us from bondage my taking our sins upon
himself.
- God's
people must come prepared: Prepared in study, prepared in prayer, and
prepared in faith that God will deliver just what His creation needs, just
at the right time and the right place. At the time of Christ's birth, a
few prepared for his arrival and traveled far distances to come and
worship the promised Messiah.
Brothers and Sisters, my
prayer for you is that as we travel through Advent together, that we go in the
confidence that God through His Son Jesus Christ will supply our true needs,
and not just our wants. Additionally, as we await the coming of the Messiah,
let us be prepared by reading His Word, and being in constant prayer
communication with him.
What Do You Want For
Christmas?
Pastor Tim.
Beloved, both these answers were good in the following ways:
The young girl that stated anything would be fine left her choice up to someone else in the trust that whatever was delivered would fit the intended need. The young girl with the advertisement clipping came prepared to ask for what she wanted.
Beloved as we approach Christmas I believe that we can glean something from both these young people:
- Whatever
God delivers to us will be just what we need: The people that first
awaited the Messiah believed that he would come like a military general to
defeat those in power and to free those in bondage. Instead, the Messiah
came as a baby that would fulfill the role of the "Suffering
Servant" that would free us from bondage my taking our sins upon
himself.
- God's
people must come prepared: Prepared in study, prepared in prayer, and
prepared in faith that God will deliver just what His creation needs, just
at the right time and the right place. At the time of Christ's birth, a
few prepared for his arrival and traveled far distances to come and
worship the promised Messiah.
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