A Season of Anticipation

by Ron Hamilton, Conference Minister

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. (Luke 2:4–7)

The teaching of these verses is pregnant with information about the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. We learn about the little town of Bethlehem and how it fits in with prophecy. We are reminded that Jesus was born in the line of David. The picture is painted of a humble Savior born in a manger. But there are some other words that are very important: “the time came for the baby to be born….” The story of the birth of Jesus tells us about the incarnation, God taking on the form of flesh, born as a baby.

One of the great things about the birth of a baby is the rising anticipation that takes place from the time of the discovery of the pregnancy, to the announcement of the coming baby, to the preparation for the infant, to the eventual birth of a child. In God’s creative plan, it takes about nine months from conception to birth, and the expectancy rises day by day. I remember the joy of preparing for the birth of my children. It was one of the greatest times of my life. I will never forget the shock when my daughter told me that I was going to be grandfather. However, that was followed by a great time of anticipation for the birth of my granddaughter.

The season of preparation for Christmas is called Advent. This simply means “coming.” We remember the coming of the Lord Jesus, the Son of God born in a manger. We also look forward to His second coming in power and glory. In this season we are reminded that God’s work is not complete and that He is still at work to accomplish His will and His purposes. A sense of anticipation rises in this season.

We have a great sense of anticipation of God’s work in and through the ministry of the CCCC in these days. God is at work in our fellowship and we believe that greater days are ahead. I trust that the lessons of this season will remind us of God’s promises and will strengthen the sense of expectation in our fellowship.