Celebrating Advent: Embrace Jesus in This SeasonSample

The King You Follow

Who is Lord to you, dear one? Whom do you call King? Once upon a time there was a baby born in a manager. The night was not still. My Son would be hunted, his mother and father the target for evil. They would flee in the night and walk, with toil, for many days. But before this, when it was time for my Son to be born, I found a place for him to lay his head.

It was not the place thought of when kings are considered. It was a place of humbleness. It was hidden, unknown, secret. Until I made it known—with the triumphant shout of the angels, the men who traveled far for the whisper I placed in their heart, “A King is coming. The King is here!”—they did now know the time had come: Messiah, the anointed one, the King who would save.

When you think of the King you serve, of the King you worship, of the King you await this Advent, what does He look like? How does He speak? What are the characteristics of this King you follow? How is He worthy to be followed? How can a King not know where He will lay his head unless I provide it? Is this your King?

I love such a King. He is King of more than what you see, this King. And He sits beside Me, and He has come to set the captives free. He is more than a story of a baby in a manager, of refugees fleeing, of cattle lowing, of angels singing. He is more than wise men gifting and a virgin girl believing. He is more than a Christmas song, a wreath hung at the door, a tree bedecked with jewels. He is more than celebration, the outward coming together of friends and family, the church; although yes, celebration is in order. Yes, rejoicing is good.

But pay attention to your heart now, daughter.

Consider the way in which my Son arrived. And consider how you perceive Him now: Consider the curve of His brow, the eyes that see you, the hands that reach for you. Consider His arms that hold you, the compassion of the King who knows you and serves you, the Lamb who died for you, the King who mourns for you. Consider His voice, His words, His speech—what He says to you in the night when you feel alone, in the day when the world is humming and answers are hard to find.

He is the answer, this King. He is the answer, this servant. He is the answer, this Lamb. He is the answer, this Bridegroom who awaits his bride and who goes forward to meet her. From heaven to stable to cross to glory, this King does not waver. He knows pain and anguish, suffering and temptation; and yet He does not yield. He does not yield to evil. He does not yield to what is not mine.

All that is mine is His, and He knows from where all strength comes, all hope. He is light, and is this the One whom you follow? Is this the One whom you serve? Pay attention now. Look deep within your heart. I will help you. I will show you what I see. For a King is born.

I don’t want you to miss it.