The Lord is With You

November 28, 2010
The First Week of Advent- The Lord is with you!

Readings: Genesis 3:14-16, Isaiah 7:10-16, Isaiah 8:19-9:7, Micah 5:1-2, Luke 1:26-38


Today is the first day of Advent, but I found myself asking, is this a tradition or is there more to it? What does Advent mean and is it something we only do on Sunday or is there more to it? The first week of Advent talks about the Birth of Christ and how it was prophesied and then announced to Mary.

From the beginning Christ knew He would have to come. Then throughout the Old Testament the prophecy of Christ continues to pop up. A sign again and again to those throughout the ages, don’t give up, He is coming, the Savior of the world. Then years later when all hope seems lost, Mary is visited by an angel who brings news that was beyond comprehension. Can you imagine being a teenage girl and being given the most precious gift in the world, yet that gift could be the one thing that gets you killed?! I wonder if Mary held onto the words the angel said as her lifeline. “The Lord is with you.” Mary knew that no matter how hard the circumstance may get, the Lord would be there and protect her. What great faith she had to have in Him to trust that what He said was true. She could have been killed for being pregnant and she most definitely would become an outcast, yet she knew it was all worth it, she also knew that the Lord would be with her. What a great promise.

As I continue to reflect, I begin to realize how lucky we all are to have that same promise extended to us. The Lord is with us, because of Christmas it is now possible for us to have a relationship with the Creator of our world. Mary put herself on the line to guarantee that, and Christ then gave up His heavenly world to come and save those who had disowned Him. How often do you feel like you are going at it alone? I know that is how I have felt lately. How often do you feel overwhelmed by the pressures of this world or the pressures of Christmas? Yet above all, the Lord is with you. Isn’t that comforting?! He is with us, we aren’t going at it alone.

This week in the spirit of advent, let’s look for those ways the Lord continues to show us He is with us! Instead of looking at this week with dread, look at it with anticipation! What will He do to amaze us?! How will we be comforted by Him and learn that no matter what HE is with us! Let us be like Mary and hold onto that! If the world may fall out under you, hold onto Him. I think I shall take that nugget of truth and plant it in my heart. God is with me. My world my fall apart and my job may not be “ideal” but HE is with me. He came on Christmas so that He could be with ME and YOU…take that nugget truth and let it resonate in your heart. Then breathe in big and take the first step down the road on the journey of the heart of Christmas.