Urgency = that sense that what you need you need NOW.
For years and years Israel longed for a Messiah … the long-expected Savior. In 1744 prolific Hymnist Charles Wesley wrote a classic carol I can recommend:
| VERSE ONE Come, thou long expected Jesus, born to set thy people free; from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee. Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art; dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart. | VERSE TWO Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King, born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring. By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone; by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne |
Verse one of this Carol is dripping with urgency.
- “Long expected Jesus”
- “Release us”
- “Find our rest”
- “All the earth”
- “Desire of every nation”
- “Longing heart”
Verse one is all about what we need RIGHT NOW. Then, verse two changes the tone … it moves beyond the present to the future:
- “Deliver”
- “Forever”
- “Gracious Kingdom Bring”
- “Eternal Spirit”
- “Raise us”
Christmas is a past, present, and future celebration. What God did, He is doing, and will do forevermore. This tracks really well with how we celebrate Christmas. We remember Christmas traditions, we enjoy the moments of Christmas, then we shift our thoughts to New Years and “what’s next.”
Urgently celebrate! Hope in the glorious future God has for His beloved.
Prayer: “Dear God, some of us began preparing for this Christmas during last year’s after-Christmas sales. Other are scurrying around today to ‘finish up’ for the Big Day. From December 26, 2019 to today much has happened. All of it has seemed urgent. We ask You to grant us great memories of Christmas past, to make some new memories afresh; and Lord, help us wonder about the hope of 2021. In Jesus’ name, amen.”