OUT there in the world, this is the season of Christmas. In the church calendar, however, we know the season as Advent. Advent means the arrival of a notable person or thing. In Christendom, Advent is the first season of the Church year, leading up to Christmas and including the four preceding Sundays. It announces the arrival of Jesus Christ, the most important character in the history of humanity.
There is much history behind the Advent season, but the summary of it all is that Advent is time to focus on the “coming” of the Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ. The call to focus on the coming of the Lord is directed at both human collectives (churches, communities, towns, cities, nations, etc.) and also at individuals.In fact, the call to the individual is the more important call. Salvation is personal; the Lord Jesus Christ redeems us one by one. We accept His sacrifice one by one; and no one can become a disciple of Jesus Christ on behalf of another person. So, this is the season in which, individually, we all need to respond to the Lord.
What is in it for us? What do we stand to gain? The answer is that the incarnation, or the advent of Jesus, was to meet the real needs of Man; and those needs are not exactly the same as you move from person to person. Only sin is common to all. Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 3:23:
Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Thankfully, Jesus Christ addressed the problem of sin and its consequences in the lives of men. He said:
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
In addition to that, fortunately, Jesus Christ meets peculiar individual needs and solves individual problems. Therefore, as we enter into the season of Advent, and as we prepare for Christmas celebrations, we should come to Him one by one with the issues of life that concern or confound us. They may be issues of sin, of disease, of poverty, of heartbreak, of captivity, of spiritual and physical blindness, of physical and emotional bruises, …anything at all! The Lord of Advent will manifest and deal with all of them. He says,
Matthew 11: 28 Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Are you labouring today under the yoke of sin and Satan? Freedom is available in Jesus Christ, but you need to receive that freedom personally. Are you heavy laden with problems of life? Don’t carry those problems around for a moment longer; those heavy burdens can crush you! Drop them now at the feet of the cross. Cast your burdens upon Jesus; He cares for you (Psalm 55: 22).
To be continued.
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