Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/909943
DECEMBER 18 13 "I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, And in his word I put my hope." —Psalm 130:5 Wait for the Lord T he word advent refers to a coming or arrival. For the Advent season that leads to Christmas, the anticipated arrival is that of Jesus Christ. His first coming is at the heart of Christmas. However, He comes to each of us if we will open our hearts to Him and believe that Jesus is who He claims to be. He will also come again in His glory. That is something we look forward to, even though we do not know when this will take place. In Celtic Christianity, Advent begins six weeks before Christmas, to emphasize that we need to take time to wait. Our Advent guide begins the customary four weeks before that special day. What is most important is that we wait for the Lord, and that takes time. It is not something we do while giving our attention to other things. So the more time we can devote to waiting on God and to affirming His presence in our own heart, the better we will discern Christ in the world around us and the more we will appreciate the special holiday of Christmas for all that it means. When our family came to America from Scotland, we needed immigration papers that would allow us to arrive and live here. My wife, Jean, trusted God and was convinced it would take place. Through a series of amazing miracles, God directed it all. I began that journey anxious because I could not see a way to reach a successful end. If only I too had learned to wait on God, I would have saved myself a great deal of worry. Let us take time each day to wait for the Lord. Richard S. Hess, PhD Distinguished Professor of Old Testament