kingdom travelin'

The 12 days of Christmas are not just a song. They are a season, the second season of the Christian year (which began with Advent). Through this season, will be thoughts of Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

Today we celebrate the incarnation of the Son of God. One of the clearest description may have become familiar recently as we’ve thought through Advent. it is a text that beautifully describes the work of Christ!

“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.” (Colossians‬ ‭1:15-20‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

On this final day of Advent we again consider joy, again in the form of rejoicing.

God sent an angel to be his messenger with the great news of the incarnation of the Son. This messenger informs young Mary that she was to bear the Son of God incarnate. Paul said the fullness of God was pleased to dwell in the man who would be named Jesus. The young woman’s reply is found in Luke’s Gospel:

“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,’” (Luke‬ ‭1:46-47‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Her spirit rejoices!

As we wait for the celebration that comes tomorrow – celebrating the already…

and for the eternal celebration – the not yet…

… let us remember to rejoice in God our savior.

Advent, of which we are in the final days, is a time of waiting. We wait to celebrate the incarnation of the eternal Son of God, Jesus. But we also await his return to rule the new heavens and the new earth with justice. This already and not yet can be seen in Psalm 85.

The psalmist begins with “You showed…” and a few lines later our writer says “Restore us…”

Already.

Not yet.

I suggest you look at the entire Psalm and in the last “stanza” we can see a study of the work of the Son of God:

“Love and faithfulness meet…”

“righteousness and peace kiss…”

If we consider his love, faithfulness, righteousness and peace, this can fill us with joy.

But this requires discipline. This is why we may see a correlation between a neglect of our focus on him and a lack of joy.

“Set your minds.”

Joy is internal. It emerges from our soul. It is from God in us and the Spirit moves because Christ sent him to us according to the Father’s plan. One practical way for me to foster joy is meditating on the Bible, the psalmist seems to agree:

“Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭119:111‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Marinate in Scripture and watch joy emerge.

“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.” (Habakkuk‬ ‭3:17-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬)

Set your mind on him! Not on circumstances. When we are struggling, we can set our minds on him. He will be with us. Think of the stable. Think of the baby lying in a feeding trough. Think of the angels rejoicing. This is the already.

He will come back. He will bring justice. Our ability to experience joy will be undescribable, unimaginable, greater than what we can think of. Because he is faithful. Knowing this, we may have joy.

Rejoice in this Advent season.