Christmas Advent 2012 Day 5

December 6, 2012 As a pastor, Christmas Eve service has always been a fun time. We clear the pulpit furniture off the stage and replace it with a living room scene. At the beginning of the service we would invite the children to come down and sit with us as we sing songs and go through the biblical account of the birth of Jesus. Throughout the Advent season during Pastor’s Pals we had been blessed to have guests talk with the children each week. Four characters came in the order of the candles; Isaiah, the Innkeeper, a shepherd and finally the angel. This all built up to the Christmas Eve service, where a character we called Marturion (Greek for witness) told of his roll to continue telling the story of Jesus coming and peoples future hope in him. During the time he was speaking he quoted John 3:16 for the children. After he left, it was my responsibility to bring everything together so that it would all have meaning. I ask the children, “Can you say John 3:16? Their response was to say in unison, “John three sixteen.” It was a good lesson on being prepared for anything. The prophet Isaiah, in the midst of giving a Word from God concerning those who would make war, called upon Ahaz to ask for a sign from God. To which the Lord through Isaiah says in Isaiah 7:14,” So, the Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel.” This was God’s word of Hope and assurance for the Jewish nation. On this the sixth day of advent, let us ask ourselves a question: Where are we placing our Hope? Or, what is or main focus and expectation on? Is it on the something that will not last; or on the One who came down the backstairs of heaven to be born in a barn, wrapped and laid in a feed trough? It’s something to think about.