Advent is something new to me. Sadly, the tradition I grew up in selectively ignored church traditions and events which regarded adhering to the liturgical Church calender. Pure religion throws off old stuffy tradition because it wasn't from the heart, or at least that's what I was told. Well, here I am, 27 years of church later and this is the first year that I will consider Advent leading up to Christmas.
I was particularly moved by today's reading according to the Revised Common Lectionary out of Psalm 40. Psalm 40:11-13 (TNIV) pierced me deeply, as an arrow through the heart.
It reads:
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, LORD;
may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, LORD;
come quickly, LORD, to help me.
When I often think of the anticipated coming of the Lord (παρουσια) I typically view it as purely the rescue of Christ's church and my body from this wicked and cursed world, but never have I thought of the second coming as Christ's power to rescue me from myself... until today. Like David, I sense that trouble and sin have overtaken me. I am in desperate need of the Lord's salvation. I need God's rescue to come quickly or else I may be ruined. I need to be saved from myself! Yet, with gratitude and a glad heart I know God's mercy, love, and faithfulness are enduring, being renewed every day toward the Father's beloved. I am not yet ruined, but only by my Father's graciousness, for He has kept from the my own undoing.
I was particularly moved by today's reading according to the Revised Common Lectionary out of Psalm 40. Psalm 40:11-13 (TNIV) pierced me deeply, as an arrow through the heart. It reads:
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, LORD;
may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, LORD;
come quickly, LORD, to help me.
When I often think of the anticipated coming of the Lord (παρουσια) I typically view it as purely the rescue of Christ's church and my body from this wicked and cursed world, but never have I thought of the second coming as Christ's power to rescue me from myself... until today. Like David, I sense that trouble and sin have overtaken me. I am in desperate need of the Lord's salvation. I need God's rescue to come quickly or else I may be ruined. I need to be saved from myself! Yet, with gratitude and a glad heart I know God's mercy, love, and faithfulness are enduring, being renewed every day toward the Father's beloved. I am not yet ruined, but only by my Father's graciousness, for He has kept from the my own undoing.