Come, Lord Jesus

But you, Bethlehem . . . though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be the ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Micah 5:2

Micah, Chapter 5, provides a clear prediction of Christ’s coming. Hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, Micah predicted that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem on behalf of God, to “shepherd his flock” (v. 4), and to “be our peace” (v. 5).

During the Advent season, we await the one who was sent by the Father to live in our midst, and to save us. We often use the verb “come” in asking God to come to us today, through the Holy Spirit, as he came to earth in the person of Jesus over 2,000 years ago. It reminds me of the prayer we use most frequently before meals in our home: “Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest, and may these gifts to us be blessed” (Common Table Prayer). I love to pray this prayer, because it assures us that God is ready and willing to join us at the table, and to share our joys and our sorrows. We can invite him into our lives daily—the one who has blessed us with food and many other gifts.

A Christmas Supper tradition in Poland is to set an extra place at the table for the Christ Child. What a comforting practice it is to ask Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, to join us at the table and in our everyday struggles.

We need God’ s help. Like the Psalmist, we cry out to the Lord:

Come, Lord Jesus, we are anxious; hear us and comfort us (Psalm 80:1);

Come, Lord Jesus, we are lost; save us (Psalm 80: 2); shepherd us (Micah 5:4);

Come, Lord Jesus, we are broken; fix us, restore us (Psalm 80:3, 7);

Come, Lord Jesus, we are conflicted; bring us your peace (Micah 5:5);

Come, Lord Jesus, we are empty; fill us with the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:41).

Open your home to Jesus this Christmas. Invite him to be an honored guest. He is a guest you will want to remain with you forever. He inspires laughter, love, hope, joy and peace. What a Christmas gift.

Diane Cieslikowski Reagan                                                                              December 18, 2015