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5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll— I have come to do your will, my God.’ ” 8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:5-10 NRSV Bible)
The best gift I ever received at Christmas was the knowledge of the love behind most things Christmas. Yes, there was that one Christmas when I badly, badly wanted a James Bond attaché case. Yes, I wanted 007's case that could shoot bullets, had an exploding note pad, a combination lock and contained the rifle that Mr. Bond sued with his license to kill; stock, scope, extension barrel; the works! And yes, I did indeed get that gift that year! I loved it but had to admit that deep down I knew that the real case of James Bond was not made of this cheap plastic like the one I received from Santa. Some years later I had the same feeling of joy as my bride and I assembled our first Christmas tree out of a paper towel roll, som alumnium foil and viola we had a tree complete with a handmade angel.
We come to a passage from Hebrews, our epistle reading for this coming Sunday in which the write reminds us of the precious and powerful gift of Jesus to the world. This passage from Hebrews challenges us to reflect deeply on the very purpose of Christ's coming, not just as a baby in Bethlehem, but as the ultimate fulfillment of God's plan of salvation. As we enter the season of Advent, the waiting, longing, and anticipation of Christ's coming stir our hearts and minds
In verses 5-7, we see the words of Jesus as He steps into human history. He doesn't come to offer more animal sacrifices or religious rituals that only cover sin temporarily. Instead, He brings Himself—a body prepared to do God's will perfectly. In a world where sacrifices were repeated year after year, Christ’s offering is once for all, final, and complete. His body, His life, offered in place of the endless rituals, is the very thing God desires. Jesus has the power to remove sin from our lives.
This passage invites us to ask: Are we offering to God the kinds of sacrifices He desires? Are we looking for external actions or rituals to make us feel justified, or are we willing to give ourselves fully to God's will? Christ came to do the Father’s will—He was not swayed by temporary measures of goodness but committed to complete obedience, even to the point of death on a cross. In His coming, He calls us into the same radical obedience: to lay down our own plans and agendas, and instead, to live according to the will of God. Advent is a time to renew our commitment to this deeper offering. It’s not about how many presents we give or how perfectly we decorate, but whether our hearts are truly ready to receive the gift of Christ and reflect His obedience in our lives. Christ’s offering invites us into a new way of living, where God’s will—shown through love, mercy, and sacrifice—becomes our own guiding principle. PRAYER: Gracious God, we thank You for the incredible gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who came to do Your will and offer Himself for our salvation. As we prepare our hearts for His coming, help us to lay down our own desires and to seek Your will in all things. May this Advent season be a time of deeper surrender, where we move beyond empty rituals and allow Christ to transform us from the inside out. Strengthen us to follow His example of obedience and love. We offer ourselves to You now, Lord, as living sacrifices, trusting in Your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: During this Advent season, let us take a moment to examine our lives and reflect on whether we are offering what God truly desires—our hearts, our obedience, and our willingness to follow His will. How can we make space in our daily lives to better align ourselves with Christ’s example of selfless love and devotion? I love you and I thank God for you! Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
