Day #335 - Advent

The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder

“But with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Photo by Steve Sharp on Unsplash

When does your family set for Christmas?

Christmas is coming soon, do you have your Christmas decorations out yet? People have strong feelings about when Christmas decorations should go up in and on a house. I always thought setting up for Christmas after Thanksgiving is over was a good time, but now for some it is getting even earlier. My grandpa grew up in a home that didn’t set-up anything for Christmas until Christmas Eve. That’s right there were no Christmas decorations out, a Christmas tree or presents sitting out. My grandpa would wake up when he was a boy on Christmas morning and come out to see a tree, decorations and all sorts of gifts. His parents would have to stay up all night setting up a tree and putting up lights and what not to get ready for the big coming of Christmas Day. It might have all come out on one night, but they had to be very prepared for what was coming.

In Peter’s first letter to the church he talks about redemption that we have as believers and that our redemption is through the precious blood of Jesus. This is the blood of the Lamb of God who is without defect or blemish. Then Peter says He was chosen before the creation of the world but was revealed in these last time. He is talking about the first coming of Jesus which is the incarnation, where Jesus came in the flesh. This coming of Jesus the Lamb of God is also celebrated by the Christian church from the first Sunday of December through Christmas Eve, as Advent. Advent means “coming” in Latin.

This is coming is all about “the Presence” of God coming to us in Christ. Jesus came to be born of the Virgin Mary two thousand years ago. This is what Peter is referring to as “these last times” when Christ was literally revealed by taking on human flesh. Although Jesus came and it was announced to Mary and Joseph, it was actually before the beginning of creation that Jesus was chose to come for us.

This was not God’s plan B. Jesus coming and eventual death on the cross, where His blood was shed as the Lamb slain for us were not an emergency reaction to the sin of humanity. God knew that when the world was formed, God the Son would have to come for us, as us, as a man. He came fully human but was(and is) fully God. God knew that for us to be near Him, to have fellowship and a relationship with Him, He would have to come. This is the key to understanding how the entire Bible ultimately reveals Jesus the Lam of God. The whole Bible story is one great story that is preparing us for His coming. This time of Advent leading up to Christmas is to look at His coming and remember that He is coming again to be with us forever.

Lord Jesus, Lamb of God without blemish or defect, thank You for Your precious blood. You were chosen to come for us before the foundation of the world. What love You have shown us. Open my eyes to the power of Your advent and Your incarnation. Help me to see how much You desire to be with me. In your precious name Jesus, amen.