Daily Ornament

by Pastor Carnell, McAlester, OK

Daily Ornament!
“Let your face shine on Your servant; save me in Your unfailing love.” – Psalm 31:16

The Apostle Paul reminds us that…“Love is Patient.” How true that is especially when it comes to dealing with people whose constant misbehaviors and actions do everything to test that love.
The author of the Advent devotional Illuminate reminds us of how many times God was rejected by the people He had set aside for Himself. Time and again God attempted to guide and direct them, but they quickly turned away. They refused to be gathered under the protection of God’s wings. But God’s patience is not like our own. For thousands of years He has held steady to His Covenant—standing behind His people even if and when they did not stand with and for Him. In today’s gospel reading we see Jesus revealing the heart of God and the love of God for these stubborn people, even though they neither deserved it and at times accepted it.
Admit it—Christmas/Advent is a time that definitely tests our patience, not only with others but sometimes with ourselves. We think we have to do it all, get it all, be everywhere, do everything—and we neglect to do the one think that Advent calls us to do, worship Christ! Maybe that is why I am drawn to the “Wise Men!” Their patience in searching for the one who was born, “King of the Jews” led them to travel a number of miles, going to several places before they were to find the object of their search, the Christ-child, who at the time was believed to already have been about 2-years old. That means they had been searching (and/or researching) for at least that long.
Wow!! We struggle sitting through a two-hour service in search of truth. Can you imagine two-years? No, we can’t. We are not conditioned to wait. We want things now! We buy something online (to prevent getting out) and we want it overnight so we pay more than we would if we had gone to the store. Does that make sense? We want “instant” relationships—so instead of taking the time to develop them we turn again to the internet in search of love to find that perfect “soul-mate.” And for those who think that is utter nonsense we have a friend who did just that! Many cannot wait for Christmas morning to open presents so they create a new tradition by opening them up on Christmas Eve…and for those who cannot wait for that are now celebrating Christmas Eve with a Christmas eve’s eve recognition. (I am not making this up!)
And what about the Church? It is not exempt from our cultural instant gratification system. Too many want a Church that will give them what they need now instead of putting their whole heart and energy into the Church. They want to be served first, instead of serving others and most importantly, the One for whom the Church stands for.
A few things to consider here: First, don’t expect more out yourself than what you are physically and financially capable of! Don’t overextend yourself for something that a couple of months from now will be forgotten! Second, don’t expect more from others than what they are capable of or what they were meant to be. And what may be the most important message of all—don’t expect Christmas to be your savior! Many businesses rely on Christmas revenue to make their year successful—and in the same way there are those who place their hope that this time will make them happy. They have made the season their savior!
The Jews were looking for the Messiah, and yet when He was in their midst they failed to recognize Him. He is still in our midst, and it is not hard to find Him—just look at the word [Christ]mas. He’s there—He’s here. He’s patiently waiting to hear from you.
Pastor J. T. Carnell