I received a devotional from a fellow author recently and thought it was great food for thought carrying off of our recent themes. So enjoy a word from Cindy today!
Jeremiah 23: 5-6 - “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.”
A hurricane made a big impact in our lives this year. But step back to a few years ago right after Rita. There were long car lines to leave town, tempers running high, and gas tanks running low. Those who stayed behind bought water and batteries. Most heeded the warnings and yet it seemed that all our preparations and actions were all for nothing. So the next one came and we watched the news, but did not move. The next one came, we changed the channel. The next one we yawned. Finally, for a mere Category 2, we went without power for 10 days, lost the contents of our freezers and then stared at the downed trees and power lines.
I imagine that in Biblical times, people heard or read this prophecy of the Lord and reacted similarly. For the first few years, keeping an eye and an ear peeled waiting with great hope and anticipation for this Savior. But then, the everyday hum drum of life took over. I mean, really, there were sheep to tend, families to look after, children to raise, and taxes to pay. Slowly, the great prophecy moved from the forefront of their mind, to something they remembered being told that one day would happen. Some day got further and further away.
We are not so different than those people in Biblical times. We know that the Christ will come again, we know that we can anticipate an eternity with the Father in Heaven. Some day. And so, we allow the routine of our everyday lives to take center stage, because really, if we don’t get the Christmas decorations out and up, we will miss the Neighborhood contest, disappoint the children and goodness, what will the neighbors think?
I believe that maintaining that hope and anticipation of the Lord’s promise is exactly what helps me survive the day. It is that anticipation that allows me to wake each day with a smile, knowing that while He is with me today, some day, I will be with Him. It is that hope that gives me the strength to look at the stress and trials in my life and realize with a sigh of relief that I need only pass them over to God. This Advent Season, let’s announce to the world that we are ready, willing and able to keep our hope and anticipation at the forefront of our lives for the great Some Day.
Advent Devotional 2008 – Cindy Pirtle
No comments:
Post a Comment