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Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Tis' the Season of His Coming

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”
Luke 2:6-7

It is no secret that my favorite time of year is Christmas. When I was a little kid my heart brimmed over with anticipation, eagerly awaiting the arrival of that glorious day. As a child, I was captivated by the various sights and sounds of the season: Christmas Muzak would fill the air outside the shops downtown, the giant snowflakes would light up the town square, mom would make a various assortment of cookies, Santa’s Shed would sit nestled on the Courthouse lawn, my dad and I would haul the Christmas tree from the attic and my sister and I would fight over who put the star on top. However, the true meaning of Christmas was lost on me, until I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. At that point the Christmas season took on a whole new wonder for me! It is the same “wonder” that captured the attention of the world 2000 years ago. The season that preceded Christ’s birth was marked by many wonderful attributes that characterized the times leading up to His coming. They are also reflective of the season that will precede the Lord’s return. So often when we think about the season of the Lord’s return, we choose to reference Matthew 24:6-8:

“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.”

Similarly, the days preceding Christ’s first coming were ones of severe oppression, heavy taxation, and intense moral failure. Nevertheless, the season was also marked by some other wonderful characteristics that are just as pertinent today as they were then.

It is a season marked by God’s favor towards His people:

“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Luke 1:26-28


It is a season of encouragement:

“Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, ‘Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.”

Luke 1:29-30

The angel of the Lord encouraged Mary as he explained to her that the Messiah was going to come and God was going to use her in His divine plan.

It is a season of possibility:

“How will this be, “ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

Luke 1:34-37

It is a season of leaping and rejoicing:

“At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: ‘Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!”
Luke 1:39-42

There was joy at the prospect of His coming!

It is a season of praise:

“And Mary said: ‘My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me- holy is His name.”

Luke 1:46-49

Finally, It is a season of expectation:

“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.”

Luke 2:4-5

The season was not lost on Mary and Joseph, because they were expecting Him to come! As we enjoy the signs of the season I wonder how many of you, as we see that day approaching, are expecting His coming. May your Christmas be filled with God’s favor, encouragement, possibility, leaping/rejoicing, praise and expectation!

Pastor Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com

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