34: Advent and God’s Redemptive Plan

Advent highlights the larger story of God’s Redemptive Plan.

Hey friends, welcome to the first week of Advent. Advent encompasses the four weeks leading up to Christmas day, the day we celebrate the birth of Christ. But, I think many people do not even know what Advent is or what it means. So I want to read a description of Advent from The Worship Sourcebook and then share some thoughts with you.

“The great proclamation “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” from John 1:14 assures us that God has entered human history through the incarnation of the Son. The season of Advent, a season of waiting, is designed to cultivate our awareness of God’s actions – past, present, and future. In Advent, we hear the prophecies of the Messiah’s coming as addressed to us – people who wait for the second coming. In Advent we heighten our anticipation for the ultimate fulfillment of all Old Testament promises when the wolf will lie down with the lamb, death will be swallowed up, and every tear will be wiped away. In this way, Advent highlights for us the larger story of God’s redemptive plan.”

From the Worship Sourcebook

When we read our Bibles from beginning to end we see the unfolding story of God’s redemption plan. From being created in His image to the consequences of our rebellion, to the One who would crush the head of Satan and then through the history of Israel, the message of the prophets that cried out for repentance and looked forward to the coming Messiah.

God’ redemptive plan has its climax in the birth of a baby. But not just any baby, the Christ, the King eternal who would live a perfect life, die a humiliating death on the cross but then be raised to life to prove His ultimate power over our ultimate enemy.

We currently live in the already but not yet part of the redemptive story. Christ has already come and conquered sin and death, yet He has still to come a second time to make all things new.

So, we wait. But it’s not a waiting that we do like waiting for the bus or waiting in line at the grocery store. We live while we wait. We love and work and minister while we wait. We find joy in the midst of waiting, we endure hardship and suffering while we wait. We are not just idly standing by hoping for the best. We are living meaningful lives full of purpose, courage, strength, and faith.

While you wait this season to celebrate the newborn King, get yourself moving toward others, find ways to be gracious and generous, look out for those who are hurting or mourning and comfort them, find those unspoken needs that the people around you have and meet them. Celebrate while you wait, enjoy the company and hospitality of friends, family and even strangers. Let this time be a place where you experience Christ’s love on the inside but engage with Christ’s love on the outside. This is the gospel of a King who serves us in order that we may worship Him and serve others. This is the gospel that changes everything.

Photo by Greyson Joralemon on Unsplash