Those who are fans of the James Bond movies and books can quickly tell you how Agent 007 prefers his martinis: “shaken, not stirred.” And yet, as we enter the Advent season together and prepare to receive our King Jesus, I’d like to take a moment to turn Bond’s catchphrase around, using the language of the prayers that we often hear at this time in the church year.
Advent is meant to be a time of preparation and activity motivated by faith and love, not anxiety and fear. In these weeks, we explore again how God was on the move, actively advancing His plan to save us and all the world by sending His Son. Remembering that saving activity of old, and desiring that final saving act of Christ’s glorious return, the church prays, “Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance…”
And motivated by faith and love, we seek to be a people stirred to action, not shaken by fear. We pray in the second week of Advent, “Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son…” Like John the Baptist, we have the privilege even now of pointing people to Jesus, the one who came in lowliness at Bethlehem and died humiliated on the cross to save us from our sin. In His great love, He makes us His own and blesses us with His presence and His promises. And He gives us His Holy Spirit to prepare us for His return, that we might be a people stirred to action and preparation, not shaken by the events of life.
Our God is never shaken! He is active and moving for our good, and for the good of the world! May He bless you with hearts stirred to active trust in Him, never shaken.
Christ’s peace and joy,
Pastor Baye