CHRIST The KING+ Ever Reigns on High !

Advent Meditations for 2014

The Star of Bethlehem 

Photo courtesy of  www.pravoslavie.ru

Hear the Words of Our LORD .... 

Matthew 24: 42-44  

Courtesy Biblegateway.com

Watch therefore: 

for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

But know this,

 that if the goodman of the house had known 

in what watch the thief would come, 

he would have watched, 

and would not have suffered his house 

to be broken up.

Therefore be ye also ready: 

for in such an hour as ye think not 

the SON+ of MAN cometh.

+ + + 

The opening words of Our SAVIOR to you in this Advent Season is: 

 Watch !  Be ye ready ! 

For what, exactly, are you watching ? 

Are you awaiting... simply putting in time ... treading spiritual water in one spiritual place ... until you are snatched out of here, away into Heaven ? 

NO !

Our coming LORD told us to be alert and at-the-ready for battle... a battle for souls !  And this battle is a fight for YOUR soul and mine. 

We must be watchful, lest at any time our steadfastness loosens. We must be alert lest we fall. 

The apostle Paul --- yes, even that great Apostle --- has warned us to take heed for our souls, like he did for his. 

 I Cor 9: 27 

But I keep under my body, 

and bring it into subjection: 

lest that by any means, 

when I have preached to others, 

I myself should be a castaway.

Disciplining your body and bringing it into subjection to the WORD OF GOD strengthens you in the spiritual warfare. 

Are you ready for the great testing ? JESUS told us to WATCH AND PRAY, lest we fall.  TESTING is promised. 

How is your strength tested ?  

Strength is tested when an adversary challenges you to a match. 

This match, however, is not of your own choosing and it will not be put off for a more convenient time. It is Divinely Appointed and it will test your faith to the utmost. Will you stand or fall ?  

You will not have time to return to the gymnasium and train for  this match, however. 

This training occurs daily as you pick up your Cross and die to Self. There is no cramming possible for this exam.

Yes, we do indeed watch for His+ 2nd Coming, but before that... the battle will be with the demonic thief who comes to steal our faith and our souls. 

Are you ready ? 

Let us pray:

O Christ our ROCK+, WHO+ came to ready a people for THYSELF+, help me to stand for THEE+.  

Help me to stand for THY+ glory, in the face of all opposition to Thy+ Name. 

Let Thy+ Truth live in me strongly so that I cannot yield and kiss the dirt, when demon-led people tell me to bow to their activities and proclaim them "right." 

O ROCK+ of Ages, I hide myself in THEE+. Cover me there with Thy+ Hand, O Blessed Savior.  

CHRIST The KING+ ever reigns on High; 

O Come, Let us adore HIM+ !