(Read Matthew 3)
Watching a Hallmark movie tonight, yes, I watch them, gave me an idea for this week’s devotional. Two of the main characters took a selfie with a Polaroid camera as children. Did people take selfies with Polaroids back then? Selfies became a thing in 2002 from an Australian internet forum. The Polaroid camera was invented by Edwin Land in 1948 and became very popular in the 1960s and 70s. So, it appears that no one was taking selfies when those characters were children, and if they tried, they surely didn’t turn out as good as the one in the movie!
This Sunday marks the second Sunday of Advent, a season of preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. Advent, from the Latin word Adventus, means “coming.” Many churches recognize Advent as the 4 Sundays leading to Christmas. They use this as a period of preparation not only for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ but also as a time of preparation for His Second Coming.
Let us examine our ways and test them,
and let us return to the Lord.
Lamentations 3:40
The prophet, possibly Jeremiah, who wrote Lamentations, wanted Israel to know how vital it was for them to repent. Examining our ways and testing them is something other than rocket science. Lamentations tell us that conversion toward God is an all-in commitment. When preparing for Christmas, I search my own heart and examine whether I have true repentance for sin, whether I live true faith in Christ, and again and again, I return to the Lord. There’s no better time than Advent for this.
Selfies are fun to take and share. They can make us look good, bad, and goofy. While they capture a moment of time and feelings, do they make us look at what’s inside — what’s behind the picture? When I searched “how to prepare for Christmas,” Google spit out 482,000,000 results in 0.61 seconds. Most of the ones I saw on the first page were anything but spiritual preparation. There are many ideas about Christmas preparation and not as many on true preparation for Christmas.
We can’t always remain focused on our failings, but Advent reminds us that now is a perfect time to examine our ways carefully and honestly.
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.’”
Matthew 3:1-3
The wilderness that John the Baptist described included desolate lands that we can’t relate to nowadays. People in those days understood what it meant. More than likely, that wilderness lay between the Euphrates and Judah. It also referred to the journey of the exiles who escaped Egypt. Then and now, we are instructed to renounce our wicked ways and turn back to God with complete obedience.
Is the world still overwhelmed by our Savior’s coming? Underwhelmed is more accurate. How many manger scenes do you see in town centers or malls? It’s time to slow down, break the fast-paced frenzy of trying to outdo what we did last year and return to the Lord. When the event happened 2,000 years ago, witnesses were stunned. Their reaction was amazing, considering there were no Christmas songs, colorful lights, or cyber-Monday sales, and still, it was a night unlike any other in human history.
Christ’s birth was proclaimed by the prophets and angels so long ago. In this season of Advent, I remind myself that I, too, have the responsibility to be a voice crying out in the wilderness to tell about the good news of great joy. I use this opportunity to prepare my heart for the unbelievable but truthful miracle of Immanuel. “God with us.”
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 3:7-10
Israel had been promised a Messiah, a King of Kings. He lived among them, but they rejected Him. John the Baptist and Jesus both called the Pharisees and Sadducees vipers. They were educated in God’s word and rejected the God that was promised to them. 300 times at least. John gave them a warning, another chance to come back to God.
Repenting isn’t about being sorry or feeling bad. Yes, that’s part of it, but it’s more of an action word. John was clear in his message to his audience, make a change of mind, change direction, and don’t just feel bad.
Considering their skepticism, it’s confusing why the Pharisees and Sadducees had come to the wilderness to hear John’s words. Was it about self-reflection and repentance or refuting his message? It didn’t matter to John. His role was to prepare their/our hearts for the coming of the Messiah and to bring about an awareness of sin. His words tell us of the salvation from sin offered by Jesus Christ.
When we awake in the morning and turn our thoughts to you — you are the first, you have loved us first. Even if I arise at daybreak and instantly turn my thoughts to you in prayer, you are too quick for me; you have loved me first.
Søren Kierkegaard
Our Messiah’s birth is God’s love message to fix our relationship with him. Advent is a church tradition that is not explicitly mentioned in the Bible. There are a lot of things that we devote our time and worship to that aren’t either. More important than Liturgical tradition, however, is our attitude. Advent is a time of learning, yearning, and waiting. Have we done more to prepare for the holiday of Christmas than we have done for its real meaning? Are we preparing for a birthday in the past or for the arrival of The Messiah and His second coming?
All the reflection in the world will be pointless if it doesn’t move us. At least for the next four weeks, my selfies will show something purposeful behind the pictures — a Christian soul moving away from sin and turning back to God.
So, what will be your answer?
Will you hear the call?
Of Him who did not spare His son
But gave him for us all
On earth there is no power
There is no depth or height
That could ever separate us
From the love of God in Christ
Immanuel — Michael Card
Key Applications:
- Read Matthew 3. Don’t just read through it. Pray through it. See if you’re affected. Does it move you?
- Spend 5 minutes each morning when you wake up, before phone calls, emails, and meetings, and pick one thing you can thank Jesus for.
- No one likes to hear about repenting. What an unpleasant topic. I used to be turned off by the mention of it. I better understand its relevance and why I need to turn away from it. It’s a lifelong struggle, but ask Jesus to help you do the same.
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.