Advent Devotional: Not Ready

 Not Ready


The deadline for writing an Advent devotional is a few days away and I can't even think of Christmas yet. Already Christmas decorations are being erected around town and shopping malls, because Christmas is the greatest retail season of the year. I’m not ready and I’m not in the mood. 

The funny thing is recently I was listening through a worship music playlist and Christmas music keeps popping up! I skip them, but the "random" selection keeps pushing Christmas. I finally gave up! Ha! But truthfully, when are we ever not celebrating Christ and His time upon earth? When are we ever not awaiting expectantly his glorious return? 

Jesus gave this parable as an encouragement to be ready for the coming great day of the Lord. 

 “Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night or near dawn and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.” (Luke 12:35-38)

While I may not yet be feeling ready for the Christmas season, I am called to be ready for Christ’s return at every moment by doing what servants of Jesus Christ are called to do, namely love God and love others. As followers of Jesus, we are to do as Jesus did. Jesus taught hope in the gospel, healed the sick, and set free those oppressed by unclean spirits or hunger. We are to offer hope in the good news about Jesus as well. Christmas is especially a time our culture still honors as a season of love and charity, even if they don’t believe in Christ. We are to restore others to health through healing ministries and prayer. We are to liberate lives trapped in addiction, mental health disorders, grief, and unjust situations in home and society. Teaching, healing, and liberation: doing these is what a watchful servant does while the master is away. We go about his business. And we keep the light of Christ glowing in our hearts through spiritual practices of worship, study, prayer, fellowship (small groups), mediation, fasting, etc. 

“Are you ready for Christmas?” We immediately think of shopping for our loved ones. The real questions of the advent season is, “Are you ready for your master’s return?” Will he bless you for your faithful service? My prayer for you all is that you will hear the Lord greet you on that day, “Well done good and faithful servant!”


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