Are you ready for Christmas? This question gets asked a lot now – I asked two of my co-workers this question yesterday (and got two different answers). Many are still rushing and preparing. Some of us are done with shopping (YEA!) but still have wrapping to do. Some are looking forward to being with family; some are facing a Christmas with empty chairs and hearts.
In these times when people are preparing for the future by stocking up food, water and other supplies, I want to look at the question in a different light: are you really ready for Christmas? Are you ready for Christ? I’m reminded of the ten virgins (Matthew 25: 1-13) preparing for the wedding feast – five were prepared, five were not. Now, I’m not one to get paranoid about preparation – I think my pastor said it well recently: prepare for a rainy day, not for a major flood. You welcome to disagree but regardless of where you stand, some preparation is necessary and I believe the best preparation includes being ready for Christmas by being ready for the coming of the Christ child in your heart. Prepare a place for Him to come and be ready to join in the celebration of His coming (both the first and the coming yet to be).
Don’t get caught up in the momentary circumstances – good and bad – but keep an eye for the eternal. Jesus came, not that we would have another holiday to celebrate but to have life and to have it more abundantly (His words!) I don’t know about you but I want to choose life – Adam and Eve chose death and we’ve paid the price ever since. In these troubled times, Jesus is (and always has been) the answer.
Are you ready for Christmas? I am and I hope you are, too. If not, we’d love to talk and pray with you.
Be well,
Steve
