Reflections on Advent Part 8

"...for my eyes have seen your salvation

that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory to your people Israel.”  Luke 2:30-32

I remember showing up randomly for a class that seemed pointless to me.  I rarely went.  It wasn't a class I needed.  The professor never tested from his lectures, was boring to listen to and didn't communicate the material very well.  I got more from the book!  But on this day I made an arbitrary appearance I saw students poring over notes and their books.  I asked what all the fuss was about.  "Don't you know we have a test today?" was the response.  Gulp!! I didn't know!  I'd misplaced the syllabus.  It took me only a split second to decide what to do.  I picked up my backpack and headed for the door.  A call to the teacher's office phone later had me set for a make-up test.  Nothing like showing up unprepared!  I wish I could say that the was the only or at least the last time something like that happened, but, alas, I wasn't a terribly organized person in those days.

Perhaps it's because of God's sanctifying work in my life that things like that generally don't happen any more.  I like to be prepared!  Already this year I have my house prepared for celebration.  My Christmas playlist has been compiled.  I've made cookies ahead of time.    I've planned menus for parties and for my adult children's hiatus at home.  Most of my Christmas shopping is either done or planned.  

The Christmas story as told in Luke seems anything but prepared.  There's an unplanned trip due to a political edict, an urgent search for an appropriate place to deliver a baby, an  accommodation of straw in a dwelling meant for lambs.  Nothing at all seemed prepared.  Still I have to wonder - is there any way that God can't be prepared?  Isn't preparedness part of what it means to be the Sovereign God?

Despite chaotic circumstances God was still at work.  John, the one who would prepare the way for the Lord Jesus had already been born to Elizabeth, Mary's cousin (Isaiah 40:3, Luke 1:76-77).  And later Simeon was the first to confirm that nothing is out of order when he sees Jesus, babe in the arms of his parents, enter the temple.  Simeon had waited a very long time; day after day, month after month, even year after year.  Imagine his joy as he exclaims,  “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation  that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”  (Luke 2:29-32).  Simeon wasn't the only one God had brought to the temple that day either.  Anna, a prophetess who had been waiting for God's redemption bursts for joy and leads many in worship when she sees Jesus!  (Luke 2:38)

Indeed, not only had Jesus' birth gone according to plan, Jesus' death had gone according to plan as well.  In his sermon delivered on the Day of Pentecost Peter points out that "this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men."  (Acts 2:23)  Even though the events of Jesus' crucifixion certainly would have been chaotic for all who knew Him, it had all been prepared that way.

As we approach Christmas this year let's ask God to prepare our hearts. Prepare us to receive Him.  Prepare us to worship Him. Prepare us to share of His goodness to everyone we encounter.  It most certainly is something He'd like to do for us.