Anticipation
By Paris Renae
Thursday, December 1, 2016
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
Remember playing hide-and-seek?
It was way more fun to hide than seek. Because hiding was easy and exciting – seeking was work and you were it.
I’ve never liked being it – in tag or duck-duck-goose, or in life. It’s so much safer to be in the crowd or hiding behind something.
But wise men, shepherds, and all worshippers know something: the work has already been done and Jesus is it - yet hearts called to Him still must seek. When we stop looking, we get lost. Lost in worldly trappings, lost in the event instead of the reason.
That first Christmas morning when all our children had grown and moved was --- odd. No one coming around the corner to see what was under the tree - no sleepy, smiling face anticipating mom and dad’s gifts of love.
Sure, those living in the area came over during the day, stayed for dinner, but we felt like something was missing. Our hearts were set on what we could do to make the day special. That Christmas we had lost Who was special.
Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. Psalm 119:2 NLT
This Christmas let’s get lost in seeking our Father who gave so generously.
Can we slow enough to seek a Savior who searched for us and when He found us gave everything He had to keep us?
Joy will indeed be ours when we whisper quiet and in awe – ‘You found me!’ We are never the same.
There’s a way to slow the craziness of the ‘holiday’ rush. It’s to put Christ back in our Christmas. Let each preparation be with a look to the One who gives generously, let each tradition point to Him, let each heart seek til it finds the One who found us first.
Oh, good, good Father, Your mercies are new every morning, Your love is lavish, Your wisdom is boundless. All these and many more gifts we have received from Your loving hand. Help us now to make Christmas all about You so that others can find their way and discover Your unending grace. May the awe of a Savior who came to bear our failings be a wonder we share and a promise we seek always. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
© 2016 by Paris Renae. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Thursday, 01 December 2016.
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