Advent Devotion – December 17th

Luke 2:16 “So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”

We hurry off to those crazy 4am store openings to get huge bargains on gifts… we hurry off to work (or home office these days), grocery stores, dates, doctor appointments… the endless activities that jam-pack your calendar each day. However, one definition of hurry is “a state of urgency or eagerness”, and that puts a more positive spin on a word that is usually given a negative connotation.

Do we come to our time alone with Jesus in a state of eagerness? Or is it just one more appointment in this hamster wheel season we call Christmas? Another activity we race through so we can check it off our list and get on to the next pressing matter?

When the shepherds acted upon their eagerness, they found Jesus. We have the same opportunity – Jesus is waiting for us each day to find Him, to come to Him with the enthusiasm and zeal of a child racing to the tree on Christmas morning to unwrap her gifts! He has the gifts of love, joy, peace, rest, abundant living — all wrapped up in Himself, just waiting for you to receive them.

Ready… set… rest in His presence.