Pastor Larson’s Corner: Be prepared
This year, winter caught me completely off guard. I was not prepared for two feet of snow on the first of November. My lack of preparedness included such things as not having the snow blower tuned up, not having all my leaves raked, and not having my skis waxed. I have learned once again that living in Minnesota means you have to be prepared for unpredictable weather.
Advent is the season of the church year when we prepare for the coming of Christ. It is an important time for Christians because it gives us some much-needed time to get ready for the coming of Christ. If we use these weeks before Christmas to prepare, Christmas will mean much more to us.
When John the Baptist went throughout the region of the Jordan proclaiming the coming of the Messiah, he was preparing the way for Christ. Like the prophets of Israel before him, John was sent to get people ready. His message of repentance gave people the chance they needed to be ready when Jesus came. Because of Advent, we have this same kind of an opportunity to be ready to receive Jesus into our hearts and lives at Christmas.
Advent gets us ready for Christmas. During this time we remember and reflect upon the salvation that is ours because a child was born. Advent also gives us the chance to reflect upon Jesus’ second coming in glory. Not being ready for a snow storm in November can cause considerable inconvenience for us all. Not being ready for Jesus when He knocks on the door of our hearts is a much more serious matter. Our spiritual life depends on receiving Christ when He comes. Why not use this season of Advent to get ready and to prepare yourself for Jesus’ coming. Doing so well bring you the assurance and hope that comes with being fully prepared to receive Jesus into your life at Christmas.
Pastor Larson’s Corner is written by Jerry Larson and appears weekly in the Norwegian American Weekly.
Pastor Jerry Larson retired to his cabin in Zimmerman, Minn., after 39 years in parish ministry for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In 2011 he published a book entitled “Speaking the Word Freely: Writing with purpose, preaching with power.” Contact him at jerlarson@visi.com
This article originally appeared in the Dec. 12, 2014, issue of the Norwegian American Weekly. To subscribe, visit SUBSCRIBE or call us at (800) 305-0271.
