By: Mark Roberts, Lead Pastor at Crossroads Commmunity

As we enter the Advent season, we seem to have the attitude of Charlie Brown in one of the Peanuts comic strips.

The Advent season is kind of like our chance to warm up. In fact, that’s what Advent means. It means, “to await”. That’s what we are doing right now and for the coming days, we are warming up for Christmas and awaiting the coming of the King, Jesus Christ.

In Psalm 85, we read of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness coming to the lands of Israel. Psalms 85:10 says that in the land of the People of God, “Love and faithfulness meet together.”

But there’s more! The Psalmist goes on to say, “righteousness and peace kiss each other”.

According to the Psalmist, all of these good things–love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace–enter the land when God’s glory comes to dwell.

I don’t know about you, but to me, that sounds a bit like Christmas! As we today, remember the story of the birth of our Savior and King, we know that at his coming, God’s glory came to dwell in our land. And with that small baby, God brought us love, faithfulness, righteouness, and peace.

This unfailing love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace should continue to pour out of the lives of those who not only believe in Jesus but live lives that mirror his.

As we recall and, with fresh hearts, ponder the meaning of the coming of Jesus, our song and proclamation are:

Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

Let earth receive her King;

Let every heart prepare Him room,

And heav’n and nature sing,

And heav’n, and heav’n, and nature sing.

Joy to the earth, the Savior reigns!

Let men their songs employ;

While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains

Repeat the sounding joy,

Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,

Nor thorns infest the ground;

He comes to make His blessings flow

Far as the curse is found,

Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness,

And wonders of His love,

And wonders, wonders, of His love.

Merry Christmas!