The Lord says, “Shout and rejoice, O beautiful Jerusalem, for I am coming to live among you. Many nations will join themselves to the Lord on that day, and they, too, will be my people. I will live among you, and you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me to you. The land of Judah will be the Lord’s special possession in the holy land, and he will once again choose Jerusalem to be his own city. Be silent before the Lord, all humanity, for he is springing into action from his holy dwelling.”
Zechariah 2:10-13
How appropriate as we are in the midst of Advent. The Lord saying to Zechariah, “I am coming to live among you!” The people had been waiting … for centuries. They had experienced hardship, famine, exile, occupation, evil rulers, and hopelessness. If only God would rescue them. What was taking so long?
Right time, right way. God was waiting for the right time to enter into this world. And the right way, in the person of his Son … born to an unlikely young woman in an unassuming location. God coming to live among them—among us! It was the moment that set up the life that would change everything.
God lives among you now too! The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is God’s presence with his people. Jesus himself promised this gift after his own death. So instead of a human being born into a place and time, God was now in the person of the Holy Spirit, present once and for all time!
God invites you to experience that gift with great joy this season. It is better than anything waiting for you under the tree. So these passages from Zechariah, with their timeless promise, live on today in you. Share that gift with those around you, won’t you?
Questions for reflection:
1. What is the greatest Christmas gift you ever received? What made it so special?
2. Who are you going to invite to join you at worship soon? That, too, can be one of the greatest gifts you could ever give that could change a life.