[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_row_inner parallax_bg_width=”110″ parallax_speed=”normal” bg_type=”theme_default” bg_grad=”background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #FBFBFB), color-stop(50%, #E3E3E3), color-stop(100%, #C2C2C2));background: -moz-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -o-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -ms-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_image_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_image_size=”cover” bg_img_attach=”fixed” parallax_sense=”30″ viewport_vdo=”viewport_play” enable_controls=”display_control” bg_override=”0″ class=”advent” el_id=”adventHeader”][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][us_image image=”8122″ animate=”afb” animate_delay=”0.2″ size=”medium” link=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_custom_heading text=”Advent Devotional” font_container=”tag:h2|font_size:65|text_align:center|color:%23efefef” google_fonts=”font_family:Condiment%3Aregular|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal” el_class=”adventTitle”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner parallax_bg_width=”110″ parallax_speed=”normal” bg_type=”theme_default” bg_grad=”background: -webkit-gradient(linear, left top, left bottom, color-stop(0%, #FBFBFB), color-stop(50%, #E3E3E3), color-stop(100%, #C2C2C2));background: -moz-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -webkit-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -o-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: -ms-linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);background: linear-gradient(top,#FBFBFB 0%,#E3E3E3 50%,#C2C2C2 100%);” bg_color_value=”#eaeaea” parallax_style=”vcpb-default” bg_image_repeat=”no-repeat” bg_image_size=”cover” bg_img_attach=”scroll” parallax_sense=”30″ viewport_vdo=”viewport_play” enable_controls=”display_control” bg_override=”0″ background=”primary”][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][us_image image=”8241″ size=”full” link=””][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”5/6″][vc_column_text]

Thorns: The Ground and a Crown

by Rudy Gaytan

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]”No more let sin and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest the ground”

We are in the season of Advent, but it often feels like I am again in a state of panic to get so much done. My role as a Husband and Father is pushed to the max as I also become turkey butcher, pumpkin bread baker, and candle-jar maker. Seriously, I like to mix wax and pour candles to give as gifts to my immediate family. Anyway, I digress.

We ponder the Joy brought to the world in the form of our Savior, but is He in the forefront of my mind as I untangle the Christmas lights? We know about the Star of Bethlehem, but is He the reason we purchase the tree for the living room? The virgin birth was a miracle, but should we buy the glowing Mary, the colorful Mary, or the plaster Mary for the scene symbolizing His birth?

I am not suggesting these things, along with many others, are not important. What I am suggesting is we have to make sure we do not allow these events to take our eyes off of the Savior. Amid these distractions, it is so easy to forget the reason for the season and have these events “choke out” the wonder and beauty of the birth of our Lord. In Luke 8 and Matthew 13, Christ is teaching, among other things, the parable of the seeds and the sower.

In Luke 8:14, He directly mentions how the seed, the Word of God, is “crowded out and nothing comes of it as [the hearers go] about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun” (the Message Translation). Here, Christ teaches that the thorns directly refer to worrying about a future we cannot control, being consumed with making more money, and chasing after what feels good at the moment. As always, preparing for the future, having some fun and providing for your family are not the issue. The real issue is when these things are taken to the extreme, and our lives become consumed with activities which serve to do one thing: take our attention away from our savior. It is when these activities choke out our time, resources, and energy that we must take a moment to step back and reflect on the true purpose of the Christmas holidays.

In Genesis 3:18, part of the original curse put upon humanity for original sin is for the ground to be cursed, and have it spring forth thorns. Even our Savior had to literally experience the discomfort of thorns while he was upon the cross, in the form of a humiliating crown. But what is it about the symbolism of a crown of thorns? What is it about the mockery and pain of sin, twisting and warping the true meaning of a crown fit for the King of Kings?

For Christians, the thorns of sin are things only our Savior can redeem us from. For Christians, Advent is a season to rejoice at the birth of our King. How joyful is our world, now that the Lord really has come.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”20px” size=”custom”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/1″][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]