“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!’” -Luke 2:13-14
What two words would describe how you are “feeling” as we walk slowly in this Advent Season? Content and happy or discontent and frustrated? I guess that depends on the day and who you are with; you might say. Also, we know we are not to rely on our feelings to structure our days…but we often do. We determine to “feel” a certain way and challenge anyone to sway our thinking. Oh, we may not consciously say this out loud but ask those closest to you and they can tell you where your head is right now.
The Scriptures constantly command us to take a different tact; “Do not be afraid. Do not be anxious/worry, rejoice always, love as Jesus loved us.” These are commands and they are things we can chose to do by God’s grace and through the power of His Holy Spirit because we have been given faith through Jesus Christ.
The songs of Christmas call upon us to realize this as well. Think of the beloved Christmas carol/hymn, O Come, All Ye Faithful. The words of this hymn describe us as “joyful” and “triumphant” and they tell us why we are defined this way.
O Come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels,
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him
O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Now, I know not all of us are “feeling” this… this morning. Don’t worry. Believers in Jesus Christ live in an odd duality: we are in this world, experiencing joys and sorrows, but we are not of this world. Paul reminded the Philippians (and us by extension) “For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body, by the power that enables Him even to subject all things to Himself.” – Phil. 3:18-21 When Jesus comes again he will put all things right. Until then we have a mission and that is to live as those who belong to God’s kingdom.
Citizens of heaven are joyful and triumphant at what has been and what is to come to God’s glory. We are to be joyful and triumphant because our King has justified us with His death and resurrection. As Advent is a time to reflect on what has been and what is to come I pray that we consider the commands of God for us today so that we can be His witnesses in this Season of joy and triumph because of His incarnation as well as the rest of the year because of His death and resurrection.
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above;
Glory to God in the highest;
O come, let us adore Him, O come, let us adore Him,
O Come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.
Let us remember this day, in this first week of Advent… we are to be joyful and triumphant like those who have gone before us. They have received the prize, but it is a prize that is ours as well. So we can say, Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as in heaven. Amen!
God Bless y’all today!
In His Grip,
Pastor mike
