What are you Waiting for?

[0:00] The first question I asked you was, what is the longest you have ever had to wait? Well, when we get to the Old Testament, the Israelite people, God's chosen people, they had to wait 400 years to find out what happens next.

[0:15] But actually, there was waiting even longer than that, because God's promise, God's greatest promise to people was, you ignored my instructions.

[0:28] You decided you know better than me and to do things your way. And that puts a rift between us, that separates us. But here is my gift to you.

[0:41] I will send somebody who will close that gap. I will send somebody who will take the punishment, who will bring us back together.

[0:51] And they had to wait thousands of years for that gift to come. As we are coming towards the start of Advent, the start of Christmas this year, what is Christmas about for you?

[1:07] Is it about the money? Is it about waiting to find out what the most exciting present under the tree is?

[1:20] Is it about the things that we do for each other? Or the things that we do for ourselves? Maybe taking a few days off work. Maybe being busier than actually we normally are at work.

[1:32] Or is it about the greatest gift? Oh. The greatest gift we can ever be given doesn't end with Christmas.

[1:46] It starts there. In John 3, 16, we can have the message version of that on the screen. This is how much God loved the world.

[2:01] He gave his son, his one and only son. And this is why. So that no one need be destroyed. By believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.

[2:17] God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help.

[2:29] To put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted. Anyone who refuses to trust in him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it.

[2:42] And why? Because of that person's failure to believe in the one of a kind son of God when introduced to him. Actually, the Bible is very clear.

[2:56] When we decide to do things our own way. When we decide we know better than God. When God says, don't do this.

[3:06] Don't eat from that tree because it's not good for you. And we decide, actually, you know what, God? I think you're wrong. I think I know better. All we do is separate ourselves from God.

[3:23] We had to wait thousands of years for God's greatest gift to come. Jesus. It wasn't just Jesus being born in a stable, in a manger, in a stable or probably a cave.

[3:40] It wasn't just Jesus becoming human, becoming like us. But the greatest gift is what Jesus did for us.

[3:54] Forgiveness, love and hope. So as you start preparing for Christmas, as you start thinking about what is going to take your time, what is going to take your attention, what is the answer going to be?

[4:18] Is it going to be the busyness, the rush of Christmas shopping, getting the house ready, the time, like making sure we're free, we're ready to spend time with other people?

[4:29] To say there is nothing wrong with being busy. There's nothing wrong with doing all of those things, spending time with our family and our friends and doing good things for them. But maybe we should make sure, before we even start the Christmas period this year, that the greatest gift of all is at the centre.

[4:51] I wait for the Lord. My whole being waits. And in his word, I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.

[5:07] Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love, and with him is full redemption.

[5:18] He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. What are you waiting for this Advent, this Christmas? Let's wait for the greatest gift of all, for Jesus.

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