It's Not About You. . .

"It’s not about you!"  I remember the first time I read those words in Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Driven Life.  For some reason in this first week of Advent, I thought of those words.  

Throughout history, Israel anticipated the coming of their Messiah. The Old Testament contains more than 400 scriptures and prophecies outlining the birth of this Messiah, His life, His death, His resurrection, and His return. It was always God’s plan to redeem His people, since the beginning when Adam and Eve chose a life sin over a life of abundance. God declared His plan to His prophets over many centuries and continues to fulfill His Word even now.  So, you see, it's about "Him".

"Prepare the way of the Lord" serves as a main theme of Advent.  As we are hustling about, buying, making, baking, partying, and anticipating Christmas, most importantly, we should not neglect to prepare our hearts for Jesus, who came as "the light of the world." His light penetrated a darkened world. His light provided the opportunity for all to see their Messiah, to accept their Messiah as the hope of their future. 

Since the 7th century A.D., Christians have included the celebration of Advent in their Christmas preparations.  "Advent" originates from the Latin word advenio which means coming to. Advent is the time when we, as believers, focus on Christ coming to the world.  With a twofold purpose, Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas.  First, it prepares us for the celebration of the birth of Christ and second, it reminds us that we wait eagerly for the return of our Messiah, Jesus, in glory. 

Today, more than ever before, we need to have our hearts prepared in such a way as we await the return of Christ, that we can breathe the words and mean them, “come quickly Lord Jesus!” As you are preparing your Christmas, take time to read and to learn more about what God’s Word reveals about Christ's return and the significance of world events as they unfold before us.

Be ready. Be watchful. Be prepared. The Light of the world has come and will surely come again.  Father God, let the light of Christ shine through our lives so that we may glorify you in all that we do and help us to walk in the light of the Lord and in the truth of your Word. Amen.

"The birth of Christ is the central event in the history of the earth -- the very thing the whole story has been about." -- C.S. Lewis