ADVENT THROUGH THE ALPHABET
is for Advent.
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you. –Psalm 33:18-22
Activity: Practice waiting. Find a special treat, maybe a cookie for each family member. Then set the prize in the middle of the table and set a timer for two minutes. At the end of the time, you may enjoy your treat.
How did it feel to wait?
Did you think about the treat while you waited?
Advent is the time in the church when we wait. We wait to celebrate the day our LORD came as a baby in Bethlehem and for the day he will come again.
Do you like to wait? Can you think of a time when you had to wait a long time?
One theme of the Bible is that God’s people need saving. They find themselves trapped, lost, and dirty with sin and God saves them over and over. But He also promises that He will send one who will rescue His people once and for all. A King who will save God’s people so that they are never trapped, lost, or broken with sin ever again.
We need saving too. We need God to save us because we are trapped, lost, and dirty with sin. But we do not have to wait for God to send someone to save us. He already did when He sent Jesus to Bethlehem on that first Christmas. God did all the work needed to save His people once and for all.
But since Jesus has already come, what are we waiting for now?
Advent starts today as we wait to celebrate when Jesus was born. But God also promised that one day Jesus will come again. Our king will return, but not as a baby, and not to die on the cross. Jesus will return as a powerful and glorious king and we will all celebrate His victory together. But until then we wait.
PRAYER: Dear God. Waiting is hard. Give us patience as we wait for Christmas, and as we look forward to the day when you will return. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.