Dear Church of the Open Bible,
What does the Christmas season mean to you? What feelings or thoughts does it evoke in you? Maybe your mind goes to the extra cost of the season, buying presents for family and friends. Maybe your mind goes to the busyness of the season, gatherings, parties and deadlines. Maybe your mind goes to those you’ve lost, loved ones you miss. Maybe all of these. And yet somehow, there can still be the expectation that we should be excited.
Instead of manufacturing excitement this Christmas, we want it to be genuine. True excitement about this season comes from understanding that what we celebrate is not the beginning of the story, but the middle. What we celebrate was a long time coming. It was a slow build of anticipation. Listen to Simeon’s words as he holds six-week-old baby Jesus.
“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 was holding God’s salvation that He had prepared in the presence of all peoples. For the next four weeks, we are going to take a break from our sermon series in Luke to trace how God prepared this work of salvation. We want to get a sense of the growing anticipation and excitement of promises being fulfilled and applied to us. Join with us in celebrating God’s plan of salvation.