We started a new sermon series called "Unwrapped: Unwrapping God's Gifts at Christmas." Our first sermon was on Mark 13:24-37 with the emphasis being on verse 27, so the sermon was called "God's Gift of Eternal Family." We easily overlook that verse during the Lectionary reading and see all the signs foretelling the Second Coming of Christ and miss that the whole point of Jesus' second coming is to reunite us all as God's eternal family.
We find the Psalm reading for yesterday, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 sharing with us these words:
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth 2 before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us! 3 Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved. 4 O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers? 5 You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure. 6 You make us the scorn of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves. 7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved. 17 But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself. 18 Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name. 19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
The concept of salvation for many is simply being saved FROM our sins. I've shared many a time that in seminary the hardest question I encountered was when my theology professor asked, "What are we saved TO?" I had to confess as did the entire class that we had thought only about being saved from something rather than to something. And that "to" factor was the restoration factor of salvation. We are saved from our sins and to a new life, restored into a full relationship with God. We are saved from death to life, and not just any life, this is the "full meal deal, baby" life of abundance in Jesus Christ.
Advent is the right time to think about that. God had a purpose in sending Jesus the first time. And God will have a purpose in sending Him a second. What have you done about the first visit? And are you ready for the next?
PRAYER: Loving God, I celebrate my salvation in Jesus Christ. Jesus has saved me from my sins, and He has saved me to the fullness of life. Help me share that today with all who might listen. I ask this in Jesus' Name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
