First Sunday in Advent - WLC/SJ

Missing the Point

Consumed by Worry, Fear, and Lack of Faith

How many of us drove out to Wal-Mart, Best Buy, or another store to brave the crowds to grab that "one in a lifetime" price? Some of you I know are good at making lists - you are methodical about after Thanksgiving shopping. It becomes an art form truly to be appreciated. In your pocket or purse you have a master list, a map, a schedule which may include breakfast - and one little deviation from this list could spell disaster. There is no room for fear, worry, or defeat. In the end you will have a shoppers prize. You mastered the art of driving through parking lots, avoiding shopping cart accidents, and you kept your cool even though you really wanted to say something to that person that just cut in front of you.

The text leading up to Christmas bring with an advent of themes - the promised second coming, judgment, the fear of the end times. And with these readings comes a certain amount of fear, worrying, and in some cases lack of faith. The term advent means a time of preparation for the coming of Christ. Christians believe that the season of Advent serves a dual reminder of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting that Christians today endure for the second coming of Christ.

We await the arrival of many things. Many of us spent time awaiting the arrival of guests for thanksgiving. Much work was to be done before our homes would be ready. There was cleaning to be done, food to be made, and in the end it was worth it. Fellowship was had, break was broken, and bounds between families members were continued.

Advent is a time for us as a church and as individuals to "get ready" for the coming of Christ into our lives and our homes not only this Christmas but every day of our lives. We keep watch and stand guard to meet our Lord - "awake awake for night is flying" indeed.

Applying the Text

1. Do not be consumed by worry - be caught up in the hope and reality of God's promised revealed in Jesus Christ.

1. ¹⁴The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. ¹⁵In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. ¹⁶In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”
   

2. Fresh out of business school, a young man answered a want ad for an accountant. Now he was being interviewed by a very nervous man who ran a small business that he had started himself.
   "I need someone with an accounting degree," the man said. "But mainly, I'm looking for someone to do my worrying for me."
   "Excuse me?" the accountant said.
   "I worry about a lot of things," the man said. "But I don't want to have to worry about money. Your job will be to take all the money worries off my back."
   "I see," the accountant said. "And how much does the job pay?"
   "I'll start you at eighty thousand."
   "Eighty thousand dollars!" the accountant exclaimed.
   "How can such a small business afford a sum like that?"
   "That," the owner said, "is your first worry."
3. If we lift our souls to God let us then put aside our worries, our shortcomings, and our sins and know that God "will take care of us"
2. Fear can blind us from seeing the true glory that awaits us.
   
1. ³⁴“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly, ³⁵like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
2. ¹³And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
3. It takes faith to be open to the revelation of Jesus Christ - the one who came and the one who is to come.

1. ⁸Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

   ⁹He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.

   ¹⁰All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
   

2. ¹⁰Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you face to face and restore whatever is lacking in your faith. ¹¹Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. ¹²And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.