Into Bethlehem

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. -- Jeremiah 31:31–32 (ESV) What are your expectations this Christmas? Whether it is a meal, a gift, an experience, or a magical moment, we tend to have great expectations of what our holiday celebrations will be like. Unfortunately, these expectations are often built on unrealistic desires and when they are not met, we become frustrated, angry, despondent, or depressed. We have learned throughout this Advent season about these promises God has made. We might be tempted to lower our expectations. In an attempt to avoid disappointment, we wonder if these spectacular promises are possible. This doubt is often based not on our understanding of God, but on ourselves. We see our failings easily. We wonder if we will measure up to what God wants. As we continue to explore the Advent promises we find a spectacular truth. The fulfillment of these things rests not on us but on God. But how? And who?