Yesterday, Jessica and I sat down after having a wonderful, plum-stuffed pork loin with stuffing, to read a new book that we have started for the Advent season. The book is "Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus.", edited by Nancy Gutherie. It basically is a compilation of various reformed pastors/thinkers upon the topic of Christmas.
Last night, our very first reading was quite challenging. Jessica was really excited about reading it seeing that it was written by George Whitfield, knowing that I would delight in hearing his thoughts apart from the biography I am reading on him.
You could clearly tell as Jessica read aloud that this was 1730's English. It was difficult at first to understand, but just like listen to Shakespeare, your mind eventually clicks and you can understand a majority of it. Jessica continued to read, and I closed my eyes and listened to her.
With a smile she finished up the last couple of sentences, we both sat and pondered the brief message. In short, during the Christmas Holidays...should we not have more conversations regarding Christ,...should we not make him a much more central theme than our 'playing cards and going to plays'...should we not meditate on His coming.
I thought for a second after it was over to this Whitfield challenge,...and my first response was, "HOW DO I DO THAT?". But, for atleast for my home,...we have started just by reading this short book. We atleast have have directed 15 minutes of our evening to thoughtfully considering Christ. It is not an intense Bible Study and Hymns at Bldg. 8075, but it is a start.
What will you do this Christmas to meditate on Christ more? Will you be content with another year of trivial 'traditions' or will you do your best to raise your affections to the one who gave his life for your forgiveness and righteousness? My recommendation is an "Advent" book which centralizes on a passage of Scripture. Our write your own for your family. Use the Bible as your guide.
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