Do not be like the five foolish, but be among the five wise, who had their lamps trimmed and burning, watch and pray.
My brothers and sisters in Christ, sing unto the Lord daily, proclaim the good news of his salvation from day to day, until he comes again, for no one knows the times or the seasons when Christ will come again. Therefore be vigilant, be watchful, for he will come as a thief in the night and you may be found wanting.
“The people who in darkness dwelt have seen a great light.”
Have you yet seen the light? Are you walking in the light of the Lord? What better time to begin walking in the light of the Lord, than this Christmas Season? How could we continue to walk in darkness when we have so much to be thankful for? All through the year, God has been providing for us, he has been guiding us through all of the problems that we faced, he has been there for us in so many ways, and now we are almost at the end of the year, he gives another reason to say thank you, in that we could celebrate this glorious season with hope, peace, joy and goodwill. Show God how thankful you are by inviting into your hearts, make room for him in your homes, and know that he will abide there not just for the New Year, but for all eternity.
Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. John 3:19
“You know what time it is, how it is now the moment for you to wake from sleep. For Salvation is nearer to us now, than when we became believers; the night is far gone, the day is near. Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us live honorably as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. Instead, put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” Jesus said, “I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.” Praise the Lord!
Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh. Matthew 24:44
My brothers and sisters in Christ, I know not when Christ will come again, but I am getting ready. I want my lamp to be trimmed and burning, for He will appear when I least expect him; therefore, I will continue to watch and pray, I will continue to spread the good news of the Gospel of Christ, for until the Gospel is preached to all the world the end will not come. He was rejected at His first coming, but when He comes again every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that he is Lord. But until then, there are so many who have never heard the good news. There are so many who are spiritually hungry. Are we being faithful servants of God spreading the good news without fear or shame? Go, tell it on the mountain, over the hills and everywhere that Jesus Christ is Lord!
It’s preparation time. Prepare to meet your God! I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to leave behind an unfinished task.
Many ask, “Where is the Christ who will come again?” Many say,” We have heard the story from old, that Christ will come again”, and some continue to think of Christ’s second coming as just a story; but scripture reminds us that no one knows the day or the hour He will make His appearance, so we should watch and pray.
But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. Matthew 24:36-44
When the bridegroom comes, will you be ready? Will your lamps be trimmed and burning?
Oh God, the fountain of love and wisdom and mercy, we come humbly before you with penitent hearts, because we have been weak and vile and sinful, we have followed too much the desires of our hearts, we have walked in our own willful way for far too long, and have been led further away from your truth. Bring us back Lord, take us back to Calvary, to the place where we could be awakened to all that you did for us so that we could have life and have live life abundantly. So, have thine own way Lord, we submit to you Lord to do as you see fit with us, do whatever it takes to open our hearts and prepare a home where you may abide.
O Come let us adore him Christ the Lord! A blessed Advent Sunday to all of you.
My Advent wreath: A symbol of God’s unending love and mercy towards me.
Who is preparing us for the second coming of our most High Priest, Jesus Christ?
God saw how the children of Israel had stiffened their necks and hardened their hearts and turned aside from his ways, so he visited and redeemed them, and raised up a horn of Salvation for them in John the Baptiste, who was ordained to prepare their hearts, to show them the way of Salvation, by the remission of their sins, to give light to those who sat in darkness and to guide their feet into the way of peace, that they might serve the Lord their God without fear. My brothers and sisters in Christ, who is our forerunner today, who is preparing us to meet our risen and ascended Lord? God sends messengers to prepare us for his second coming. Have you not heard the voice of the one crying in the wilderness, saying, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight?” Have we stiffened our necks and hardened our hearts? Are we so deaf that we will not hear? Are we so rebellious that we cannot be saved? Prepare your heart to meet your God, repent and be saved, it’s time to honor God with your heart and not just your lips. Let us serve the Lord our God without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our lives, for He is coming again with power and in all His glory. Praise the Lord!
“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior for he has regarded the lowly state of his maidservant, henceforth, all generation shall call Him blessed.”
“For he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. His mercy is upon those who fear Him. He has shown strength with his arm, He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, He has put down the mighty from their thrones and exalted the lowly, He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich He has sent away empty. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from age to age.” Let us thank God for all his goodness and mercy towards us, for He who has promised is faithful to the end. Thank you Lord!