Christmas decorations were dragged out of storage and put up in my home a little early this year. Customarily I wait until after Thanksgiving to put up the tree and “make the Season bright.” But I wanted to enjoy the glow of the lights, the happiness of the decorations – so, I broke the rules.
One of my customs I will not abandon is observing the season of Advent! Christian, I want to encourage you increase the JOY of Christmas by adopting an ancient tradition, marking Advent, which starts this coming Sunday, November 30. Advent is a word borrowed from Latin that means “He comes to us.” It is a time that is both forward looking and remembering. We remember Jesus’ birth AND we anticipate the Second Coming of Christ.
The joyous festivities that surround our “Christmas” are a
great break from the weary duties of life. But . . . the BEST way to
celebrate is to intentionally make your way through Advent, preparing your
heart and mind for the coming of the King, going again to the Word to discover
God’s great Gift and why He was given.
Advent calls us back to ponder God’s loving intervention in human history, when
He gave us the gift of His Son, entering a world of death and darkness, with Life
and Light.
We like to deceive ourselves with the myth that we are
wonderful, that we only ‘make mistakes,’ that evil is only found in isolated
pockets in this world. The true assessment of our spiritual state is much more
grim – succinctly stated in Romans – “everyone has sinned; we all fall short
of God’s glorious standard.” (3)
God looks over a world where people hate each with murderous intent in His Name!
He sees the cruelty of despots and tyrants.
He hears the secret conversations we have inside our own heads- where we lust,
covet, and hate in secret.
He sees the prejudice, the greed, the selfishness that come so easily to us …
and He loves us anyway.
In my natural way of thinking, the story of Noah makes more sense to me than the story of Jesus! Genesis tells us that "God saw that human evil was out of control. People thought evil, imagined evil—evil, evil, evil from morning to night. God was sorry that he had made the human race in the first place; it broke his heart. God said, “I’ll get rid of my ruined creation, make a clean sweep: people, animals, snakes and bugs, birds—the works. I’m sorry I made them.”" (Genesis 6:5-7, The Message) That makes sense, doesn't it? Just destroy it and start over!
Advent reveals GRACE, promising us a merciful albeit just God who acts from a love that defies my understanding. In the coming of Jesus, our Creator stepped into this world not to destroy it but to restore it to the beauty He intends – starting with you and me.
Advent’s glorious message is summed up in this passage which says - "When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, no one is likely to die for a good person, though someone might be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners." (Romans 5:6-8, NLT)
Our brokenness becomes the place for the display of God's
beauty!
Our sinfulness provides the canvas on which He paints His picture of
forgiveness.
The darkness makes His Light shine brilliantly.
Advent renews my hope - for myself, for the world that I
live in.
It is not hope that springs from any human self-improvement program or some
personal victory. This hope comes from the promise of Jesus Christ to make all
things new.
Advent sings with joyful celebration -"He comes to make His blessings
flow far as the curse is found!"
Your online shopping for that perfect gift, those colorfully wrapped gifts, the lights strung to celebrate can never replace the JOY in the message - "Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79, NLT)
This is not a season for despair; He comes with hope.
This is not a season to be discouraged; He comes with deliverance.
It’s Advent! (Latin – He comes to us!)
Join the angels and sing -
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King.”
Let ev'ry heart prepare him room,
And heav'n and nature sing.”
If your church does not provide a guide for daily inspiration through Advent, here is one I suggest. https://davidjeremiah.blog/a-red-letter-christmas-advent-devotional/
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