Last weekend, my husband and I invited our children and grandchildren to our annual Christmas celebration, complete with turkey and everything. I’m always amazed at the fact that even though we celebrate Christmas several weeks before Christmas, it still feels like Christmas Day even though it’s not actually Christmas. To be honest, it used to bother me, but as the year went on, I realized it wasn’t about the numbers on the calendar. It’s about being surrounded by people you love and enjoying each other’s company. This year has been even more special with the birth of two more grandchildren, adding to the joy.
The children waited patiently to open their presents. As the children get older, the gifts become a little more expensive, children may receive one, and younger children may receive two. This was a difficult concept for my precious grandson to understand. My grandson’s reaction to the gift was one of pure happiness and gratitude, but once that joy subsided, he focused on the fact that while everyone else had received two gifts, he had only received one.
Have you ever done that even as an adult? Are you more focused on Christmas presents and what you might receive than on the joys of the season? It can happen to even the best of us, really…
When Israel traveled from Egypt to the Promised Land, led by God Himself, they focused more on food than on fellowship with the Lord. How guilty is that? The Israelites were more interested in what God had to offer than they were in spending time with God. Sadly, even after all these years, when Jesus walked among the people, they were looking for a sign, not Jesus Himself.
During Advent, instead of getting swept up in the magic of the holiday, let’s intentionally seek the Lord. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the nostalgia of Christmas by turning on lights, buying presents, wrapping gifts, decorating the Christmas tree, attending a Christmas party, and making Christmas cookies. Yet, we must be careful not to let them take precedence over the most precious gift we have ever received: salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to earth on that first Christmas day.
Let’s look at three reasons to open up the gift of the Lord’s living Word this Advent.
Jesus is the bread of life
“It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.'” Matthew 4:4
Modern believers do not have the privilege of being in the midst of God, whether in the fire by night or in the clouds by day, walking with Jesus himself in the flesh. However, we share in God’s presence through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts and acts as an interpreter of the Word. Let’s think about it! When we open our Bibles, not only do we evoke the presence of God, but the Holy Spirit opens our hearts to understand all that we are reading.
Have you ever experienced a period of spiritual thirst, so busy with daily activities that you wonder why God seems so far away? Or are you in the throes of sin and wondering, “Why am I doing this??” The answer to both of these introspective questions is hunger. You have not consumed the Bread of Life, the Living Word, that which sustains you as a believer. Rather, you are either neglecting the Bible because of the busyness of your life, or you are just consuming it in your own way without even thinking about picking it up.
Just as we need breakfast in the morning, we need the words of life. Not only does it give us spiritual energy as we marvel at all that the Lord has done, is doing, and will do, but it also gives us a lifeline to the greatest gift of all: Jesus. How much more should we open the gift of the Lord’s living Word than during Advent? Let us ponder how every part of the Bible, from the Old Testament to the New Testament, points to Jesus, the Author and Sustainer of life.
This Advent, let us feast on God’s Word and, like Mary, ponder all that we have learned about Jesus and cherish it in our hearts.
God Provides Through His Living Word
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
Unfortunately, the days leading up to Christmas can be extremely stressful. Your to-do list is miles long in preparation for the big day, cold and flu season is in full swing, you have final exams, you’re going home, and you have to get work done so you can enjoy the holidays. We get so caught up in our to-do list that it becomes our priority. All this stress can lead to fatigue and even resentment in the days leading up to Christmas.
What if, instead of starting our day with our feet hitting the floor and rushing to get things done, we opened up the gift of God’s living Word and allowed Him to give us the wisdom of His will for the day, the strength to accomplish the tasks He is leading us to, and the peace to rest in Him throughout the day, even in the midst of our busyness?
We tend to make things difficult for ourselves. But we have God’s living Word to guide us every day. Not only that, but by spending time in God’s Word, we receive gifts of good news, comfort, and joy.
In this season of Advent, as we look forward to the birth of God’s Son, Jesus, how wonderful it is to open up the gift of God’s provision through the living Word and bask in the glory of God.
A new encounter with Jesus
And we are all being transformed into the same image from one stage to another, with our faces uncovered and beholding the glory of the Lord. For it comes from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:18
I admit it. I love gifts. I don’t like receiving gift cards. There’s something about receiving a well-chosen gift and knowing the time and effort that person put into choosing the perfect gift for me. That makes it even more special.
How special is the gift of God’s Word, which He wrote for us as a love letter all those years ago? When we open the pages of the Bible, we learn about God’s greatest gift: His Son, Jesus.
I’m sure everyone has experienced this as well. I read a verse I read years ago and it speaks to me in a whole new light. God’s Word is indeed alive and active.
As you read the Bible as an opening to the gift of God’s living Word, you will find that each day brings a new gift, a fresh encounter with Jesus. If you consume God’s Word with anticipation every day, you will see a change in yourself. The Lord continues to change you with the daily gifts of His Word.
Just as we have all enjoyed advent calendars with delicious candy appearing at each door, this Advent season we can open the gift of God’s living Word each day to receive the sweet scent of a new encounter with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and experience a peace that surpasses all understanding.
May this season of Advent bring you nourishment from the Word, daily spiritual preparation, and new encounters with Jesus. It is a habit that can be continued even after the new year. After all, Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving.
Father, thank you for the gift of your son. Help us to open the gift of your living Word to glorify the Lord, especially this season of Advent. In Jesus name, amen
How do you maintain the discipline to stay in the Word during this season of Advent?
If you have already opened the gift of God’s living Word this Advent, where have you seen God nourishing, nourishing, and giving you new revelation?
Photo credit: Pexels/Denis Gvozdov
Karen Dell Tattoo is a blogger, author, women’s ministry leader, pastor’s wife, mother, and grandmother who is passionate about God’s Word. Her blog “Growing Together in Grace and Knowledge” and her books “Choosing to Trust God: Breaking the Habit of Worry, A 30-Day Devotional” and “Choosing to Trust God Companion Journal” reveal her heart offering biblical insights to inspire women to grow in, through, and overcome hardship. Karen and her husband live in Rhode Island and enjoy walking in the woods, petting owls, and spending time with their grandchildren.
