Reason #338
Have you ever anticipated someone's arrival? Maybe it's someone you haven't seen in a while. A friend, a family member, and you just can't wait to see them. Maybe it hasn't been that long since you've seen them but you've been missing them since they left. Because you have a deep love for this person, after all. Isn't that what causes us to miss someone? We care for them, we have a special bond and so we can't wait until they are back in our presence. Or maybe, it's someone you have yet to meet. Parents awaiting the arrival of their child. A girl awaiting the arrival of her knight in shining armour. One held captive awaiting the arrival of a resucer. And what relief when that person, the one you've been waiting for, no matter how long you've been waiting, finally arrives. What joy it brings to have them near, to have them in your presence.
This is Christmas for a lot of us. An opportunity to be reunited with the ones we've been missing. And we look forward to their arrival. We look forward to the time we get to spend with them. Because we know this time is short, we must make the most of it. We don't take it for granted. And if you know that you won't been seeing them again for quite a while, you make a point to squeeze in as much as possible while they're here. That way, it'll hold you over until their return.
The world was waiting for Christmas. Waiting for Him to come. The arrival of the Messiah. They anticipated it, looking forward to a king that would fearlessly lead His people to victory, conquering their foes and establish a powerful kingdom. What they didn't anticipate was His arrival. No one expected Him to come in the form of a baby, much less one born to a really simple family. But He was here. Walking on the same ground, breathing in the same air as the rest of humanity. He had arrived. Parents who had anticipated the birth of this baby were staring into the face of the King of Kings. One who came to resuce. To free the captives. To break chains. To save. He was finally here. Here to conquer death, to give His people victory over sin, and to establish a never ending kingdom.
And I think about how amazing it must have been to be there. To be a part of it. To look into the face of Jesus Christ. He was here! But the thing is, He is still here. A living Savior. A God who is active, moving in the hearts and lives of His people. One who did not abandon them when His time on earth was complete. He most certainly could have, but He chose us. Chose to have a relationship with us. To be a part of our everyday lives. To accompany us through every breath we take. A God who has been and will always be. And He's coming back. That's right. The first time was to be here with us and the second time is to take us back with Him. And so as much as His first arrival was anticipated, what joy to know that He'll be back again. That one day, we'll be able to sit at His feet and stare into the face of the Creator for all eternity. A face I have yet to see, but one I love dearly. And I'm grateful for that. Grateful that although I wasn't able to walk and talk with Jesus during His time on earth, I can still experience the joy of His presence. But more than that, grateful to know that when He comes again, I get to go back with Him. I don't have to stay here and be on my own. No, we'll be reunited for good... forever.
#338 - Because He came and He's coming again!
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us." - Matthew 1:23
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." - John 14:1-3
This is Christmas for a lot of us. An opportunity to be reunited with the ones we've been missing. And we look forward to their arrival. We look forward to the time we get to spend with them. Because we know this time is short, we must make the most of it. We don't take it for granted. And if you know that you won't been seeing them again for quite a while, you make a point to squeeze in as much as possible while they're here. That way, it'll hold you over until their return.
The world was waiting for Christmas. Waiting for Him to come. The arrival of the Messiah. They anticipated it, looking forward to a king that would fearlessly lead His people to victory, conquering their foes and establish a powerful kingdom. What they didn't anticipate was His arrival. No one expected Him to come in the form of a baby, much less one born to a really simple family. But He was here. Walking on the same ground, breathing in the same air as the rest of humanity. He had arrived. Parents who had anticipated the birth of this baby were staring into the face of the King of Kings. One who came to resuce. To free the captives. To break chains. To save. He was finally here. Here to conquer death, to give His people victory over sin, and to establish a never ending kingdom.
And I think about how amazing it must have been to be there. To be a part of it. To look into the face of Jesus Christ. He was here! But the thing is, He is still here. A living Savior. A God who is active, moving in the hearts and lives of His people. One who did not abandon them when His time on earth was complete. He most certainly could have, but He chose us. Chose to have a relationship with us. To be a part of our everyday lives. To accompany us through every breath we take. A God who has been and will always be. And He's coming back. That's right. The first time was to be here with us and the second time is to take us back with Him. And so as much as His first arrival was anticipated, what joy to know that He'll be back again. That one day, we'll be able to sit at His feet and stare into the face of the Creator for all eternity. A face I have yet to see, but one I love dearly. And I'm grateful for that. Grateful that although I wasn't able to walk and talk with Jesus during His time on earth, I can still experience the joy of His presence. But more than that, grateful to know that when He comes again, I get to go back with Him. I don't have to stay here and be on my own. No, we'll be reunited for good... forever.
#338 - Because He came and He's coming again!
“Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us." - Matthew 1:23
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am." - John 14:1-3