Are You Ready for Christmas?

During the Advent season, each of us will be asked a certain question on probably at least one occasion: “Are you ready for Christmas?”

On the surface, it doesn’t seem to be a question of any real depth. We know the answers most people are looking for when they ask. Have you finished buying presents, decorating the house and getting the food ready?

If we take that question deeper as it relates to the real meaning of Christmas and the Advent season - what should our answer be as followers of Christ?

The word “Advent” originates from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming” - the coming of Christ. The Advent season is actually designed not only for us to celebrate Christ’s birth but also to anticipate the fact that He is coming back again one day.

I think that the “coming back” aspect of the Advent season gets a little lost on us. His birth is certainly to be celebrated but the fact that He is coming back is as well.

Jesus’ birth brings our Savior to this world. His return will bring us to His world.

In light of His return, how then should we be prepared to answer the question - Are we ready for Christmas? As mature believers, we could respond with our theology - what we believe and why. Or maybe we can respond with our list of good deeds over the past year – our resume.

One of the beautiful things about the Advent season to me is the purity and simplicity of the message that it brings. The lessons from The Little Dummer Boy hold many of the answers:

Lesson 1 - We are all called to seek Jesus with a childlike faith.

Matthew 18:3-4  And Jesus said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 

Lesson 2 - We must come to Jesus in our poverty.

The boy came to Jesus in his poverty and identified with Jesus as “a poor boy too.” Two poor boys - a beautiful connection between him and the King of the universe. Neither had any earthly possessions at all – so simple, humble and pure.

We may have a nice resume of good deeds and try to live the “good Christian” life but we are all inadequate, broken and desperate for a Savior. This is our poverty.

Lesson 3 - The boy gave the best of all that he had to the King - his talent.

Do we do that? Do we give the “first fruits” of our time and talent to our Savior? God has blessed us and equipped us each uniquely. Do we fully understand our unique giftedness and how to use those gifts as the hands and feet of Christ?

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Lesson 4 - Each of our lives a certain tenor to them. We are all beating our drums each day as we live our lives. What are others hearing from us? How are our lives speaking to them - the flavor, message and substance.

Are we ready for Christmas?!? Hopefully, we all have some “Little Drummer Boy” in us.

Merry Christmas,

Big E

Matt. 5:6