The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 35:10

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”, or so the famous Christmas song tells us.  Although there is great joy this time of year, there is also an increase in loneliness, sadness, depression, and heartache.  Maybe you’ve had one of those weeks already: you’re fighting that cold that just won’t go away; you’re just plain tired and frustrated.  Or maybe you’ve been shopping and have become discouraged in what you’ve been able to find.  Or you’re overcome by thoughts of a loved one who has recently passed away, and you’re filled with loneliness or some other burden on your heart.

So how can we find joy in the midst of all the troubles and worries that this world brings?  We turn to Christ and His Word.  Martin Luther writes, “To achieve joy we must cling wholeheartedly to the Word and find comfort in the thought that Christ has so solemnly promised to be with us, together with the Father, and to protect us, so that no misfortune will harm us, no power of the devil and the world will crush us or tear us away from Him.  In this way we constantly find comfort and joy, and we become increasingly happy as time goes on.  The joy of the Christian endures forever (as its foundation stands forever), remains firm and increases in the midst of external sorrow and misfortune.”

As we cling to Christ and His Word we find a real joy – a lasting joy.  He promises that out of our limitations, He brings possibilities.  Out of our weaknesses, He brings strength.  Out of our timidity and fear, He brings confidence.  It is God’s intention that we be filled with joy.  The Good News is that we are not left on our own to find or achieve this joy.  We are given this joy in the gift of Christ.  The gift of Jesus, the living Word made flesh, full of grace and truth is what allows us to rejoice.  Lasting joy is found by trusting the Word of God and what is says about us: we are redeemed through Jesus Christ!

Rejoice this Advent season in the Good News that Christ our Savior is born for you!

Wake Up!

“Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake up from sleep.  For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.  The night is far gone; the day is at hand.  So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”  Romans 13:11-13

The Advent season will begin anew in a few short days.  It’s a time for living in the forgiveness of sins that God offers us daily through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It’s a time to be thankful and expectant as we look forward to Christ’s return in glory.  And according to Paul – it is time to “wake up” and to “put on Christ”.

The Christian author, Max Lucado writes, “Don’t be troubled by the return of Christ.  Don’t be anxious about things you cannot comprehend.  For the Christian, the return of Christ is not a riddle to be solved or a code to be broken, but rather a day to be anticipated.”

Advent is the season of expectancy – looking forward to something God is doing.  What could possibly be new and exciting about the season of Advent, you say?  “We go through it every year!”

Well, because of what God has already done – the sending of His Son on that first Advent to become the Word made flesh to live, die, and rise from the dead to pay for our sin and redeem us for salvation as His adopted children – we are to “wake up” to what God is doing right now to bring this same salvation to the world around us.  God is with us through the means of grace – Word and Sacrament – strengthening and nourishing us for life in Him.

That’s the excitement and the expectancy of Advent.  Christ comes to us.  He is Immanuel – God with us!  In and amongst the darkness of our world, Christ comes to us and abides with us.  He has given us the gift of salvation that is ours now!  The day is at hand.  So then let us cast off the works or darkness and put on the armor of light.

What a great gift our Savior gives to us this Advent!