As a Christian, I am a follower of Jesus. Technically, the word for a follower is a "disciple". A disciple is a learner, one who is committed to allowing Jesus to be more than Savior, but also a teacher. What does he teach? Simply the scripture says that Jesus told his disciples to make disciples by "teaching them all things whatsoever I have commanded you". What have we done in the name of Christ these days? We have raised up a generation of "church people"...people who have become members and affiliated with a denomination; but we have misplaced the real purpose of raising up followers of Jesus - disciples.
Perhaps Advent can call us back to his purpose for our lives, for the church as a whole. Perhaps we can prepare our hearts over the next four weeks to "receive our King".
Advent comes from the Latin, "Adventus", which in Greek was "parousia" and means "coming or arrival". The church has celebrated Advent for almost 1700 years, give or take a few years. Catholic?, I don't think so. It has an appeal that goes way beyond one denomination. It has appealed to my spirit and soul for over 25 years. I remember Christmas as a "season" not a day. I remember as a child that Christmas was a time of "anticipation", waiting, watching, looking for the surprise around each day. One day it would be cookies baking; the next a new decoration; the next memorization of a bible verse for the church's program; the next a festive gathering....every day something new and something that reminded me that I had entered a "magical" time (see C. S. Lewis) and I hoped it would never end.
On this first day of Advent I would only "plead": Please come along and journey alongside of me as we "prepare our hearts" and proclaim every day, "joy to the world, the Lord has come".
Today Read: Isaiah 11:1-3
What to do? Look for someone to share the miracle of Advent with and ask them to come along..."It's the most wonderful time of the year!"
Come back tomorrow as we journey through Advent!
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