The season of Advent is one of my favorite times of year. The excitement and anticipation are great and even truly life changing at times. Advent in being observed is a time of expectant waiting, for something amazing to happen: the birth of Jesus Christ. It's a time that church and ministry leaders earnestly and pray that all laity would take seriously, because Advent has the potential to be a time of amazing spiritual growth. In looking at Advent there are many great spiritual truths to pull out of this amazing holiday. I've listed three below.
1) We all are waiting for something. Let's face it we as human beings know how to wait. We wait in line, for promotions, we're put on hold, we sit in traffic, we wait for phone calls, emails, text messages, and the list can go on and on. So, we know how to wait and anticipate what's coming. But, do our expectations normally line up when reality hits when the waiting is over? The answer is not always. But, Advent is a whole different experience all together, we wait and wait, but in Advent our expectations are blown away by the truth that God is among us. Our expectations haven't been let down, but my hope is that in waiting for Advent they have been blown-up all over again! Know that we all wait for someone or something, and this Advent season I hope you realize waiting for Jesus to come as a baby will never let you down!
2) The message and hope of Advent is for all people. A lot of what our society throws our way is designed to exclude people. People are often excluded because they don't have enough money, don't look right, don't act right, don't say the right things, aren't educated enough, don't have the right title attached to their name, and I think you understand/get the point. Exclusions are everywhere. But, the joy of Christmas and one of the many things that sets this amazing time apart is that no one excluded from rejoicing in the incredible truth that God has come to live among us. This message excludes no one, and for that amazing truth I say praise God!
3) Advent signalizes that the best is yet to come. I was having a conversation onetime a person who was a known agnostic, and they lamented to me saying that how upset and depressed they were because their life was as good as it was going to get. What an incredibly sad way to live! The baby in the manger signalizes an amazing truth: God is not okay with allowing us to remain in our, God wants to do something about it. God is not okay with us walking in the hurtful moments of life alone, God wants to experience them so God can walk with us. The baby in the manger is God's message to us that the best is yet to come, God wants to be with us, and one we will all be with God forever where there are no more tears, pain, hurt, or sin! This Christmas season no matter where you're at rejoice and know that the best is yet to come!
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