Christmas is less than a week away. I hope you are motivated to continue with this Advent series for a few more days!
For weeks, even months during the Fall season, stores promote Christmas shopping. It used to be that they waited until after Thanksgiving to begin their promotions, then we saw Christmas decorations appear at Halloween, and now holiday displays show up even earlier! Always people look ahead to that time when the holiday will arrive in the future.
Jesus, as He was giving final instructions to his disciples, said something very different. As He gave His great commission at the end of Matthew’s gospel, he did not speak about the past – how He had walked beside them for the previous three years. Nor did He speak of a day in the distant future – when He would be with them again. He used the present tense: “Lo, I am with you always, even until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
We all look forward to Christmas morning and opening gifts and eating far too much food. But in our excitement, let’s not forget that Immanuel is here with us now. Today. An ordinary Friday in 2019. Rejoice in His presence!
