That’s what God’s people have always done. In Old Testament times God’s people watched and waited for the promise of a Savior to be fulfilled. That promise was fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. We became, in the words of the Christian author J.B. Phillips, “the visited planet.”

Why did He make the trip? It was certainly not to tour the sites or collect souvenirs. He visited our planet for the singular purpose of rescuing us. He became one of us to redeem us from the damning consequences of our sin and claim us as His own. And after He did what He came to do, He returned to His throne of Glory promising to be with us unto the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).

Old Testament believers watched and waited for an arriving Savior. As New Testament believers, we now watch and wait for a returning Savior. In the meantime, we dedicate ourselves to His purposes and live to His glory.

For God’s people the idea of watching and waiting is never more pronounced than it is now, in the season of Advent. We hear it in our hymns, our readings, our prayers. We see it in the symbols that adorn our churches and homes and in the candles that anticipate our Savior’s coming. All of these things come together to echo the Advent cry of the Church: Behold, Jesus is coming!

During this season of Advent, a time for reflection, repentance, and preparation, it is good for us to examine ourselves: How would God have us live our lives during our watching and waiting? In answer to that question we look at verses from Paul Gerhardt’s hymn, “O How Shall I Receive Thee.”

In his first verse Gerhardt writes, “O how shall I receive Thee, how welcome Thee aright!/ All nations long to greet Thee, my hope, my heart’s delight!/ O Jesus, Jesus, set Thee Thy lamp within my breast,/ And by its guidance let me know what doth please Thee best.”

How much time for reflection and preparation do we really have? Let’s face it, Advent is the busiest time of the year for most of us. It’s sandwiched between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Our calendars fill up quickly, we spent much more time in the stores, and stress is at an all time high. We often focus on the events, concerts, and shopping of the season rather than asking the question, “How best can I prepare for my Lord?”

Let us all take the hymnist’s words to heart! Pray that Jesus will kindle within us the true meaning of Advent. We as Christians are presented with many ways in which we can prepare ourselves for Christ’s return, especially during this season. Attending our church’s Advent services gives us an added boost to our life of faith. If we have gotten out of the habit, it’s a wonderful time of the year to start family devotions. During this time of year we can be an example to those who are focused on wrapping paper and reindeer. We can point them to that best Christmas Gift, the one we find lying in a manger. As we watch and wait for the coming of this our hope and heart’s delight, we prepare for Him to take us to our heavenly home.

Watching and waiting. May this be our motto this Advent season. May we look to the coming of our Savior with penitent hearts, opened arms, and faith unyielding. I leave you with this final thought from the hymn: “Sin’s debt that fearful burden, let not your souls distress;/ Your guilt the Lord will pardon and cover with His grace. He comes,/ He comes procuring the peace of sin forgiv’n,/ For all God’s sons securing their heritage in heav’n.”

Erich J. Hoeft is pastor of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in Clara City, Minnesota.