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Advent

The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit
Advent is the time of preparation for Christmas. Make sure that you prepare your heart for a real celebration of our Saviour. Remember that Christmas is not about us. It’s about God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit: “an angel of the Lord” comes with news of something very special – “what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the Name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20-21). This is what makes Christmas a special time!

Watching, Waiting, Worshipping
 During Advent, we are watching and waiting. We hear the words of the prophet – “to us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6). We’re looking forward to Christmas time. It’s a time for celebration. The Lord has come. We hear the words of Jesus – “I will come back and take you to be with Me” (John 14:3). We’re looking to the future. It’s a great future. It’s God’s future – “we wait for the blessed hope— the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). May our watching and waiting be filled with worshipping – “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Love, Light, Life
In the Advent Season, we think about love. It’s the greatest love of all. It’s everlasting love. It’s the love of God – “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son …” (John 3:16). We think also about light. It’s the greatest light of all. It’s everlasting light. It’s the light of God – “the Lord God will give them light” (Revelation 22:5). Our thoughts are focused on life. It’s the greatest life of all. It’s everlasting life. It’s the life of God – “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son” (1 John 5:11).

Hope, Happiness, Holiness
What is God saying to us during the Advent Season? He’s speaking to us with His message of hope, His offer of happiness and His call to holiness. In Christ, we have glorious hope – “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). We want to be happy. Christ calls us to be holy. We don’t find happiness by searching for it. We find happiness when we seek holiness. We’re looking for a happy Christmas. Let’s remember “the holy Child of Bethlehem.” In Him, we will find wholeness – when we’re wholly devoted to Him.

Praise, Prayer, Preaching
Where will God speak to us during this Advent Season? There’s a special blessing promised to those who gather together for worship. Remember Jesus’ precious promise – “where two or three come together in My Name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). In our worship, there is praise, prayer and preaching. May all that we do be “to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves” (Ephesians 1:6). Looking forward to Christ’s Return, “I am coming soon”, let us pray with eager longing and expectant faith – “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). As we serve the Lord, may we always say, “We do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord” (2 Corinthians 4:5).

Grow, Glow, Go
God is calling us to grow, glow and go. We are to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). We are to glow with the light of the Lord. Jesus says, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). He says to us, “You are the light of the world … let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14,16). Growing and glowing, let us go out and tell the story of what the Lord has done for us – “Go, tell it on the mountain that Jesus Christ is born.”

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