BIBLE READING: Revelation 20
Have you ever been so eager about an event that it completely changed your life while you waited?
It may have been your wedding day, a new job, a child being born, the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series, or some other milestone in life. Any of these big days came after days, weeks, and in the case of the Cubs, 108 years of waiting.
I hate to wait. Instant gratification is so prevalent in our society that seems like the world can’t stand to wait either. But is waiting a bad thing?
Thinking back to when my first child was born or the days and months leading up to my wedding, the things that happened during that time made the big day all that much more important. When my wife and I were waiting for our precious little girl, we spent time getting her room together and baby-proofing the house.
When we were waiting for our wedding, we spent hours selecting the right flowers, making sure everyone had a dress or tux that fit, and that the day was perfect. Okay, my wife spent most of the time doing all that, but you get the picture. Waiting can be a difficult thing to do, but when we wait well, our lives are extraordinarily better.
So what does waiting have to do with a Christmas Bible reading plan?
This season of the Church calendar is called Advent. The word “Advent” is a Latin word that means, “to come” or “arrive.” The Church spends this time known as Advent to wait and prepare ourselves for the season of Christmas, when we celebrate the arrival of Jesus into the world. It is a season of waiting, longing, and preparing for the presence of Jesus in our lives.
This Bible reading plan is designed to help you walk through this season of waiting. Have you ever seen this time of the year as the time to prepare for something? It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of preparing everything for the holiday festivities. However, Jesus is at the door knocking and would like for you take some time to prepare for His coming. Ask Him what He would like you to work on while you wait for the celebration this Christmas.
(We would like to thank Parkview Christian Church, Orland Park, Illinois for providing this plan)