RETURNING MY EYES TO THE SAVIOR

“Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end. He did not give up because of the cross! On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for Him, He thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and He is now seated at the right side of God's throne.”  (Hebrews 12:2 GNT)

With the arrival of Advent, Christians everywhere turn again towards the Savior. Advent marks the beginning of the celebration of His birth and His long-foretold ministry, atonement, death, resurrection and second coming. If Advent is an occasion when I return my eyes to the Savior, then it is also an invitation to consider where my eyes -- and my heart -- have been in the meantime. Advent is the gentle nudge that invites me to remember that the truth most worth knowing is that Jesus Christ is the only way Home. It is also a gentle reminder that I ought to keep my eyes upon Him all year long.  

-- Jean-Michel Hansen

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WORTH CELEBRATING EVERY DAY

Some Christians only go to church two days out of the year, at Christmas and Easter Sunday. In their defense, those are the two biggest days of the Christian year, celebrating the two biggest events in history.

Christmas, of course, is the day it was reported, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

And on Easter we remember that although that child, now a grown man, had been murdered by authorities two days earlier, on the third day those coming to mourn him were greeted by an empty tomb and asked, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” (Luke 24:5)

That sacrifice and resurrection were key to a rather joyful development, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

The one thing those twice-yearly visitors may not fully appreciate is that those two bookends of Jesus’ journey are worth celebrating every day, not just on those two specific days of celebration.

And so, Merry Christmas! Happy Easter! 

-- Warren Bluhm

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SOMETHING IS ON THE HORIZON

“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)

The season of Advent means there is something on the horizon the likes of which we have never seen before… What is possible is to not see it, to miss it, to turn just as it brushes past you. And you begin to grasp what it was you missed, like Moses in the cleft of the rock, watching God’s [back] fade in the distance.

So stay. Sit. Linger. Tarry. Ponder. Wait. Behold. Wonder. There will be time enough for running. For rushing. For worrying. For pushing. For now, stay. Wait. Something is on the horizon. 

-- Jan L. Richardson in “Night Visions: Searching the Shadows of Advent and Christmas”

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HOPES AND FEARS ARE MET IN CHRIST

“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”  (Matthew 1:23 NKJV)

As we journey through the Advent season, the familiar carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem" brings a profound message to our hearts. One line, in particular, resonates deeply: "the hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight." This line beautifully encapsulates the essence of what many of us experience -- both hope and fear.

In this season of anticipation and reflection, we are reminded that Jesus Christ, our Immanuel, is the one who meets us in our deepest needs. He is the fulfillment of our hopes and the answer to our fears. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem was not just a historical event; it was the divine intervention that brought hope to a weary world and dispelled the darkness of fear.

As we face our own hopes and fears, we can find solace in knowing that Jesus understands our struggles. He came to be with us, to walk alongside us, and to carry our burdens. In Him, we find the assurance that our hopes are not in vain and our fears can be laid to rest.

This Advent, let us bring our hopes and fears to Christ, trusting that He will meet us where we are. Let us find comfort in His presence and strength in His love. May we experience the peace and joy that come from knowing that in Jesus, all our hopes and fears are met. 

-- SOUND BITES Ministry™, compiled from a variety of sources 

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ADVENT HOPE

“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and I wait for His word. My soul waits in hope for the Lord more than the watchmen for the morning; yes, more than the watchmen for the morning.”  (Psalm 130:5-6)

Sometimes hope feels wishful, like crossing our fingers and dreaming of a better outcome. We might hope for better employment, healed relationships, or a brighter future. But that kind of hope is based on things that may or may not happen. When things don’t go as we hoped, it can be crushing -- our hope disappearing like vapor.

As a season of reflection and contemplation, Advent invites us to imagine a different kind of hope, rooted in the unchanging nature of God and His promise to restore every part of His creation. Advent hope does not minimize pain or difficulty, nor does it assume things will soon get better. Instead, it faces the darkness with courage and chooses to trust that God’s promises will come to pass, guaranteed by His long-proven, faithful character.

In the Hebrew Bible, the words most often used for hope -- qavah and yakhal -- are also translated as “wait.” To hope in God means to wait with patient expectation, trusting that He will fulfill His promises. This kind of waiting leans forward, anticipating the day when Jesus will return to make all things new. Such hope empowers people to persevere, to act justly, and to serve others as a sign of the restoration that will arrive through Jesus.

-- From “The BibleProject Guide to Advent”

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