When the Lord comes near, he lifts up the humbled. When the Lord comes near us who have been brought low with the reality of our limitations, of our weaknesses, of our failures, of our sins during this season of Advent, this past year, the past years of our lives – it is here that he comes with strength, it is here that he comes with victory, it is here that he comes with forgiveness and wholeness in Jesus Christ. Yes, to you and me who assess our hearts and our lives and our Advent and find ourselves so very wanting, to us God graciously comes in the Shepherd King of Bethlehem to lift us up, to comfort us, to strengthen us, to forgive us, that we might live securely in his care!