Will You Be Ready for Jesus This Christmas?
“Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near.” – Isaiah 55:6 (NKJV)
How do you prepare for Christmas?
Do you fill your pantry with homemade goodies? Is your house decorated Pinterest-perfect? Does your calendar overflow with parties? Will your Christmas card feature your cheerful family photo?
Christmas is supposed to be a happy time. It brings hope in the expectation of Christ’s arrival. Let’s grab a candy cane, some hot chocolate, and tinsel for the tree! But these lovely plans are only the veneer of Christmas. To really prepare, we must go deeper.
The ancient Israelites knew the Messiah would eventually come, but they were weary of waiting. It had been four centuries since their prophets had spoken about Him. The Christmas carol, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” with its minor-key tune, reflects the darkness of those days:
O come, O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear. O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by Thine advent here; disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight.
When Jesus did arrive at Bethlehem, His birth received little attention. Only a few lowly shepherds dropped by that night to marvel at the newborn King after the angels’ announcement in the fields. Later, a couple of senior citizens at the Temple and a few gentlemen following a star, worshiped the infant Jesus. Otherwise, there were few observations of Christ’s identity until He was well into adulthood.
Jesus came to a world mostly unprepared for Him. Despite His teaching and miracles, the authorities would not accept His divinity. Their unbelief and relentless persecution ultimately resulted in His lonely, sacrificial death on the cross—God’s plan for our pardon, redemption, and eternal life with Him.
What if Jesus showed up in our world this December? Would our beautifully decorated Christmas trees, bountiful meals, gift-giving, and all our other Christmas traditions be meaningful?
Perhaps you’re in a season of hopelessness. You’ve lost faith in the prophecies for a Savior. You celebrate Christmas but with a touch of sadness because Jesus doesn’t seem real anymore. Christmas feels empty.
Friend, I encourage you to seek Jesus with all your heart. You have heard He will come again—and He’s faithful to keep His promises. Take time this season to meditate on God’s Word, pray for His presence, and get your heart ready to worship. Ask Him to give you peace as you contemplate His gift of salvation.
Question for Reflection:
Will you be ready to welcome Jesus into your home this Christmas? If not, what do you need to do to prepare for a sacred holiday?Listen to the refrain in the carol mentioned earlier: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.* What a wonderful command to rejoice and the reminder of Christ’s return! May this Advent season bring you great joy, for the Light of the World has indeed come and will come again!
*Translated by John M. Neale (1818-1866)