Editor's note: "A pandemic advent: the arrival of a Savior for all" is a sampling of biblical meditations composed by members of the Concordia University Ann Arbor community. It is our prayer that you will take time during the Advent season to read and reflect upon God's Word and await the coming of Jesus with newfound anticipation and zeal through the Holy Spirit.
December 17 – The process
Isaiah 33:1–24, Revelation 5:1–14
This entire season points to the incredible gift God gave us. One of my favorite parts is the desserts! From Thanksgiving to Christmas, this is a season of delicious delicacies. Baking is a love which helps me clear my head, especially during this busy season.
Baking requires a specific and often meticulous process. Eggs are broken. Sometimes, egg whites are even separated from the yolks. Flour is sifted to eliminate lumps time was formed. Since ingredients are unpredictable, one must take necessary precautions and coat the pan. Above all, baking takes patience. A new recipe may not work. One may go back to the recipe several times and even call upon a trusted friend for clarification and reassurance. In the end, however, the result is a delicious and delectable dessert that one can joyfully share.
Our Christian walk is like the baking process. God needs us to be in order to reach those that He has for us to reach through the Holy Spirit. Just like cracking eggs, God has to break through the outer layers and walls we have built up in order to work on our hearts and separate the thoughts and desires of Him from those that are of the world.
Ezekiel 36:26 says, And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. God allows us to be sifted as He builds our faith. God knows we need help and cannot do this ourselves. He provides help through the Holy Spirit, who lines our path and keeps us on track. Finally, God instills patience because this process is not easy. We will misstep and have to start over, and sometimes we will simply have to wait. Yet He offers us reassurance in Isaiah 40: 31 that those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
As you continue through both the easy and the hard times of the process and this Advent season, continue in faith, knowing that the Creator is guiding us and His plans for us are good.
DIERRA TYRA is a student at CUW
View a full schedule of “The arrival of a Savior for all” readings here.
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