Awaited Messiah

For me, this Christmas will be different from all the other 21 Christmases I've celebrated in the past. For the first time--and I gasp that it's taken this long--I'm realizing the true meaning of Christmas, the treasure that it really is. Like a lightbulb flicking on in an instant over a cartoon's head, is this sudden revelation that I'm absolutely thrilled about.

I'll say this...

Christmas is not about gifts.

It's not about traditions.

And it's not about family.

You've heard all that before? 

Think I'm going to say, "Jesus is the reason for the season?"

Well, yes. But the purpose for this rant is not to simply quote to you words that have become more of a blurry cliche than a statement of truth. I want to go deeper with you, because God is taking me deeper.

This year, I've started reading through the Old Testament. I'm not quite finished yet, but what I've read so far has been life-changing. And one central theme has been God's promise of a Savior to a broken Israel. His promise of a Rescue, a Messiah. So Israel waited...

And waited...

And waited...

And just when it seemed that the Father had given up on His chosen race, He came. As a pooping, crying, helpless baby. At last, He came.

The reason the angels opened the sky and sang "Glory to God in the highest" (Luke 2:14) was because at last, the long-anticipated Savior had come. And in just 33 years, it would be finished (see John 19:30). Oh what joy! That the promised Savior, Redeemer, Messiah at last would come! Now we celebrate this promise kept during Christmas. And we wait in anticipation for Christ's return. 

Hang tight, my friends. This month I'll try to write often about the journey God is taking me on this Christmas season. I hope you'll join me :)

"...'Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:10-11