By David Elliott
Isaiah 40:1-5
As we approach this Christmas time, it’s easy to get caught up in all of the busyness of the season. We have the onslaught of marketing that starts earlier and earlier each year with all of the stores trying to convince us that we need this or that – helping us to realize we “need” so many things that we never knew we needed. There are parties, dinners, concerts, family, and a host of other good things to take up our time.
I know that I have to make a conscious effort to keep focused on what is really important – to remember the true meaning of this Advent season.
I hope each family gets to experience their own Christmas traditions that create memories for many years to come. Whether you are a new family just starting your journey or you have more Advents ahead of you than you can count, this is a good time to remember what is important to your family. Whether it is the decorations, a candle lighting service, a Christmas concert, gifts or any of a myriad of other traditions, we all need to remember the coming of Christ.
God so loved the world that he gave us His only Son who put aside His Godly powers to be fully human, even though he was still fully God. He came to be the perfect sacrifice to completely pay the price of sin for us so that we are now blameless before God. The story of Christmas touches all of us. Whether it is the shepherds, the angels, the wise men (or Kings), or being so poor that Jesus was born in a barn and had a feeding trough for a bed, the Christmas story comes alive for young and old alike.
May this Advent season be filled with hope, joy and wonder. Together, Let us give thanks that the true God cared enough for us to provide a way to Him through Jesus.