Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

Do you remember waiting for Christmas morning? I shared recently with the members of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Chugiak, that, as a child, I would wait for weeks, getting more excited as the day came closer. I was always worried because of some trouble I had gotten into. Would I get coal? The night before Christmas, I struggled to go to sleep. I waited with anticipation for Christmas morning.

Of course, part of that excitement for a young boy was because of the presents. Nevertheless, the whole day was special. It was different. Often during the year my parents spent time correcting me, for good reason. I got in trouble at school. I was scolded and punished for fights with my brother. BUT, on Christmas that was all set aside. Family would gather. My grandparents came over. We went to church and had a nice meal together. It was a feast of love. I am thankful that in our family our feast of love centered in celebrating the birth of Jesus, our Savior.

Yet, even though I am no where close to being a child any longer, I still wait for the celebration of Christmas. In fact, as I read through my 2 year “Today’s Light Bible,” I am again nearing the end. I am reading in the book of Revelation. Therefore, I can echo the prayer at the end of that book. Jesus declares, "Surely I am coming soon." And the Apostle John replies, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20) Yes, Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

As I write this devotion on December 17, the horrible news of the past week still causes me sadness. There was a mass shooting in Australia this weekend at a Jewish celebration for the beginning of Hannukkah. Two students were also killed and others wounded in a shooting at Brown University in Providence, RI. As I read through the prophetic book of Revelation, the people of John’s time were facing violence, and persecution, and other challenges to their faith. God gave this revelation to John in order to assure disciples of Jesus that “Yes, he HAD died for their sins,” and that “Yes, Jesus HAD risen and defeated sin and death.” In spite of their trials God had not abandoned them. So, they prayed for Jesus to come again. In the trials of our world today I also join in praying, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

However, my faith is not just challenged from outside my mind and heart. I also struggle inside myself, with doubt and anger and temptation. I struggle to be faithful. I recently read in my daily readings about the seven churches to whom John addressed this final book of Scripture. Two of the seven churches were indeed faithful in the midst of persecution and even martyrdom. But many of those churches to whom John wrote were wavering in their faithfulness to the one who had suffered and had died for them. For example, John wrote to the church of Laodicea, “15I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” Revelation 3:15-17) Obviously, our Lord wants disciples who are fully committed to Him. God is not happy when we obey, or worship, or thank, or praise Him just once in a while, only when we feel like it, only when we are in need. One of my prayers for Christmas is that the love of God shines through the miraculous birth of Jesus and again touches hearts. I pray that the self-giving, saving love of God, lights a spark again in the hearts of believers, a spark which keeps burning faithfully. Therefore, I pray, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”

This coming Sunday, December 21, the 4th Sunday in Advent, the assigned readings are from Isaiah 7 and Matthew 1. In both of these readings we are taught about Jesus, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” (Matthew 1:23, Isaiah 7:14) That, after all, is what I really need. I need to know Jesus and His presence as I celebrate Christmas. I need to know Jesus and His presence in order to receive the real gifts of peace and joy this year. I need Jesus and His presence through all the craziness in our world, waiting for Him to come again. I need Jesus and His presence in the trials of my own weakness.

So, this Christmas I again echo John’s prayer. “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”