Why Do People Get So Excited About Christmas?
The Advent season is here, friends! And I’m feeling it already.
There’s so much anticipation this time of year, isn’t there?
It’s got us acting all goofy and giddy and ready to stand in long lines and redecorate our entire houses… There is so much preparation involved. It’s like we are all excited about something really great.
I’m pretty sure the reason we are looking ahead with such gusto, is because we are SEEKING something. And we are seeking something because we are in NEED.
In the book of Malachi, we find a very specific prophecy about whom we seek:
“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts.” (Malachi 3:1-3)
It’s true, that deep down inside.. we seek our Lord. We seek a connection with Him. We seek fulfillment and completion.
We know this because the Holy Spirit has revealed these things to us, and directed us to the knowledge that
...our need is great.
...our souls are weak.
But our God is incredible and life-changing.
And so, we anticipate Him.
...our need is great.
...our souls are weak.
But our God is incredible and life-changing.
And so, we anticipate Him.
We are in desperate need, are we not?
We are suffering daily from our own sin.
From the sins of others.
From our selfish ways.
From our stubborn prideful hearts.
From our judgement and jealousy and self-righteous anger.
From our doubt and our fears and our constant resistance to our almighty Father and His wisdom that He so abundantly gives... but we so easily push aside.
We are suffering daily from our own sin.
From the sins of others.
From our selfish ways.
From our stubborn prideful hearts.
From our judgement and jealousy and self-righteous anger.
From our doubt and our fears and our constant resistance to our almighty Father and His wisdom that He so abundantly gives... but we so easily push aside.
We are in need of a Savior.
This is how Isaiah describes your need. My need.
Meditate on chapter 59...
Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,
or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
but your iniquities have made a separation
between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not hear.
For your hands are defiled with blood
and your fingers with iniquity;
your lips have spoken lies;
your tongue mutters wickedness.
Therefore justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not overtake us;
we hope for light, and behold, darkness,
and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
We grope for the wall like the blind;
we grope like those who have no eyes;
Lord, God, we need a Savior.
For our transgressions are multiplied before you,
and our sins testify against us;
for our transgressions are with us,
and we know our iniquities:
transgressing, and denying the Lord,
and turning back from following our God,
speaking oppression and revolt,
conceiving and uttering from the heart... lying words.
Lord, God, we need a Savior
The Lord saw it, and it displeased him
that there was no justice.
He saw that there was no man,
and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
then his own arm brought him salvation,
and his righteousness upheld him.
He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
we hope for light, and behold, darkness,
and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
We grope for the wall like the blind;
we grope like those who have no eyes;
Lord, God, we need a Savior.
For our transgressions are multiplied before you,
and our sins testify against us;
for our transgressions are with us,
and we know our iniquities:
transgressing, and denying the Lord,
and turning back from following our God,
speaking oppression and revolt,
conceiving and uttering from the heart... lying words.
Lord, God, we need a Savior
The Lord saw it, and it displeased him
that there was no justice.
He saw that there was no man,
and wondered that there was no one to intercede;
then his own arm brought him salvation,
and his righteousness upheld him.
He put on righteousness as a breastplate,
and a helmet of salvation on his head;
he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,
and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.
According to their deeds, so will he repay,
wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;
wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;
to the coastlands he will render repayment.
So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west,
and his glory from the rising of the sun;
for he will come like a rushing stream,
which the wind of the Lord drives.
“And a Redeemer will come to Zion,
to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord.
We are sinners in need of a Savior. In need of one to intercede for us.
And our souls know this!
to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the Lord.
We are sinners in need of a Savior. In need of one to intercede for us.
And our souls know this!
Deep down inside we know we deny the Lord… we deny what is good.
We refuse to humble ourselves, to put aside our own desires for what is best.
We can pretend that things are fine, but when we hear the words of Isaiah… we know.
We need a light in the darkness.
We need a Savior.
So then, our hearts sing at the sound of the next chapter, chapter 60
The Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you. Out of the darkness, in the midst of the gloom, His glory will be seen upon you!
We anticipate this.
We desire it.
And this time of year, it shows.
We are anxious for the glory of the Lord to shine around us. We are crying out for the good news of great joy that will be for all people. We long for Christ the Lord.
We refuse to humble ourselves, to put aside our own desires for what is best.
We can pretend that things are fine, but when we hear the words of Isaiah… we know.
We need a light in the darkness.
We need a Savior.
So then, our hearts sing at the sound of the next chapter, chapter 60
Arise, shine, for your light has come,and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,and thick darkness the peoples;but the Lord will arise upon you,and his glory will be seen upon you.And nations shall come to your light,and kings to the brightness of your rising.
The Lord will arise upon you, and His glory will be seen upon you. Out of the darkness, in the midst of the gloom, His glory will be seen upon you!
We anticipate this.
We desire it.
And this time of year, it shows.
We are anxious for the glory of the Lord to shine around us. We are crying out for the good news of great joy that will be for all people. We long for Christ the Lord.
And this time of year, it’s socially acceptable to show it.
Despite everything that might be wrong with our culture’s celebration of this holiday,
it is celebrated nonetheless,
and we need to take the opportunity to embrace what we can of the Advent season.
Recognizing our need, our sin.
Crying out to God for mercy.
Despite everything that might be wrong with our culture’s celebration of this holiday,
it is celebrated nonetheless,
and we need to take the opportunity to embrace what we can of the Advent season.
Recognizing our need, our sin.
Crying out to God for mercy.
Let us sing with the angels,
welcoming the Christ child who is the light of the world,
who brings us the only true light of life.
Who brings us the breastplate of righteousness,
who defeats darkness,
who overcomes the world,
whose promises to us are faithful and constant and
exactly what we need.
This Advent season I pray there will be a light renewed within you.
I pray you will recognize the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within your heart.
This Advent season, find hope in the One who gives you the light of life.
And cling to that which you seek -
the Savior who pursues you,
redeems you,
rescues you,
sanctifies you,
loves you,
and even glorifies you with His light.
welcoming the Christ child who is the light of the world,
who brings us the only true light of life.
Who brings us the breastplate of righteousness,
who defeats darkness,
who overcomes the world,
whose promises to us are faithful and constant and
exactly what we need.
This Advent season I pray there will be a light renewed within you.
I pray you will recognize the indwelling of the Holy Spirit within your heart.
This Advent season, find hope in the One who gives you the light of life.
And cling to that which you seek -
the Savior who pursues you,
redeems you,
rescues you,
sanctifies you,
loves you,
and even glorifies you with His light.
