Nothing makes me more anxious, the good kind of anxious, the kind of anxious that is synonymous with hope, than seeing the words, “Out for delivery,” on my Amazon account.

“Out for delivery” means that a package I ordered will be at my house any minute now.

Seeing those three words causes feelings of excitement to take over my heart, adrenaline to start pumping, and endorphins to be released.  For me, the words, “Out For Delivery,” have the power to turn any frown upside down into a smile.

Once I receive this message that let’s me know an item that I ordered is on the way, I begin to pace back and forth in front of the window that looks out upon my driveway and I check the minute-by-minute updates on my phone that tell me exactly where my package is at any and every second.  Kind of OCD, I know.

Patience is called a virtue.  But, for me, patience goes out the window when I am told that something I am waiting for is “Out For Delivery.”

During Advent, the season of waiting for Christmas to arrive with all of its gifts, we are told that God’s Savior is “out for delivery.”  

After hearing those three words we wait for God’s promise of salvation, that comes wrapped up in the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and righteousness, to arrive on our doorsteps.

Many years before God sent Jesus out for delivery, one of God’s messengers, the prophet Isaiah, told us about the coming package that God sent to us.

Isaiah describes the coming gift of a Savior by telling us what we can expect when He arrives.

Isaiah says,

[2] It shall come to pass in the latter days

that the mountain of the house of the LORD

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

and shall be lifted up above the hills;

and all the nations shall flow to it,

[3] and many peoples shall come, and say:

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

to the house of the God of Jacob,

that he may teach us his ways

and that we may walk in his paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

[4] He shall judge between the nations,

and shall decide disputes for many peoples;

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war anymore.

[5] O house of Jacob,

come, let us walk

in the light of the LORD. (Isaiah 2:2–5, ESV)

Jesus, God’s special delivery, comes to you to make peace with God for you through his life, death, and resurrection.

When Jesus arrives on your doorstep and enters into your life on Christmas morning, you can expect peace to be yours—peace with God and peace with others.

During Advent be anxious, the good kind of anxious, the kind of anxious that is synonymous with hope, and expect to receive God’s promise of peace that comes through forgiveness, eternal life, and righteousness.

Amen.
Pastor Fred.

December 16, 2019