Day 21 | Luke 21
“But keep on the alert at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” (Luke 21:36)
Christmas is fast approaching (it’s just a few days away). Think about all the time we have spent planning and preparing for this day. Many of us have spent the better part of the last 30 days thinking about this moment. The decorations are up, the presents are bought and wrapped (well mostly) and plans are made! We’re going to eat, enjoy the presence of those we love, and have such a great time.
As Jesus prepares to leave his disciples, he warns them the times ahead of them are not necessarily going to be easy. They are going to be exceedingly difficult moments, with times of pain and persecution. The antidote to this pressure, be prepared, be on alert, and pray. Jesus did not want his disciples to be caught off guard worrying about and focusing on the wrong things. He wanted them to be able to see the moment of his coming as an event to shape their lives around, and have it form their actions in the present.
Advent is a season of waiting and preparation. It’s the time that we acknowledge that we live between the two comings of the Lord. We look back to the first coming of the Lord, and celebrate that during Christmas, but we also acknowledge that we are waiting for Him to return. During this Christmas season, in all your preparations for remembering his 1st coming, take a few moments to pray, and thank God for what he has done, but also join with the ancient prayer of the church, “Maranatha, Come Lord Jesus,” and ask how are you preparing for his 2nd Coming.
