Trees of Christmas Devotions - Advent Tree
As you walk into the Administration Building of the Area Command, nestled snugly next to the Business Department, you will see the slowly emptying Advent Tree. In the beginning, this tree was covered with numbered presents. As December has moved along, the presents are taken off the tree and shared with others. Each day, someone was blessed with a gift. The secret and joy of Advent is in the waiting. Waiting to see what will happen. Waiting to see what is in the little boxes. Waiting to see what Emmanuel will do in our lives.
In the hushed stillness of the Advent season, we find ourselves enveloped in a sacred anticipation, echoing the longing of those who awaited the promise of the Messiah. In Jeremiah 33:14-16 (NLT), we uncover the ancient prophecy that foretells the arrival of a righteous Branch from the line of David, a promise that would reshape history. As we embark on this journey through Advent, let us delve into the profound significance of waiting on God and expecting great things from His divine work in our lives.
Jeremiah 33:14-16 NLT - “The day will come, says the LORD, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them. “In those days and at that time, I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. In that day Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this will be its name: ‘The LORD Is Our Righteousness.’”
The Advent season teaches us the art of patient waiting. Just as the faithful of old anticipated the fulfillment of God's promise, we are called to wait with expectant hearts. Waiting is not passive; it is an active, hopeful stance. It's a season of refining our patience as we trust in God's perfect timing, knowing that He fulfills His promises with unwavering faithfulness.
The Advent narrative resonates with the echoes of a people who expected great things from God. Similarly, as we await the celebration of Christ's birth, we are called to expect great things from the God who is at work in our lives. The righteous Branch, Jesus Christ, brings justice and righteousness into our hearts and the world around us. His arrival is not merely a historical event but a continual source of transformation for those who trust in Him. It is more than just a point in time. It is the point of our lives.
In our daily lives, let us actively wait on God with expectation. Amidst the season's busyness, take moments of stillness to listen to the whisper of God's voice. Like the presents that are opened daily, we should expect great things from our heavenly Father. Expect great things from Him, for He is faithful to His promises. Just as the anticipation before the New Testament era led to the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan, our patient expectation in the present aligns us with the unfolding of His divine purpose.
As we have journeyed through the Advent season, continue to let our hearts resonate with the spirit of those who waited for the Messiah. Fill our waiting with hope, knowing that the God who fulfilled ancient promises is the same God at work in our lives today. Let us embrace the expectation of great things, trusting in the righteousness and justice that the righteous Branch, Jesus Christ, brings into our lives.