Advent Day 24

Today is Christmas Eve, the last day of the Advent season which culminates with the birth of Christ.

All month I've been saying when I think of Advent, I think of a big wooden door like found on a cathedral, a monastery, or maybe an ancient inn. And I imagine Jesus on the other side of it, knocking. In Revelation 3:20 the Lord says, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends." That never fails to catch my breath.

In Revelation 3:8 He says, “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me."

So ... knowing all the things I do (and fail to do), God opens that door, crosses the threshold, and sits to eat with me as friends each day. Simply because I welcomed Him.

Does it catch your breath too?

My prayer for today is that I will obey God's Word and not deny Him access to any part of my heart. And I will write in my gratitude journal: Thank you, Lord, for opening the door I am too weak to pull fully open on my own - and for reassuring me that it will never be closed again.

Here's the last of the Advent readings. However, I will post tomorrow morning as well so stop by if you have a minute to spend online before or between Christmas activities. Merry Christmas!

Mark 1:9-11 (NLT)
One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River. As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

Luke 1:31-33 (NLT)
You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end!”