The What, Why, and How of Advent
I did not grow up observing the liturgical church calendar, but over the course of my life I have found great meaning and richness in its purpose. For those who may be unsure of the Advent season, and those who may want to see it with fresh eyes, this is for you.
THE WHAT
Advent, a word pregnant with meaning, begins the four Sundays before Christmas. This season is not simply one of hot chocolate, peppermint candies, decorated trees and cozy blankets. It is one that literally means “coming”.
We are reminded during the season leading up to Christmas that there was once a time when God’s people waited with anticipation for a Messiah, a Savior. We can relate to that longing, can’t we? For those who believe in Jesus, not only as a man, but also as the Son of God, we see Christmas as a time to celebrate an answer to hundreds of years of waiting.
God sent his son into the world to walk among us and to give us a picture of the Father we would never know otherwise. This sending was a fulfillment of scriptures throughout history, yet also becomes our future hope as we wait for him to come restore our brokenness once and for all.
THE WHY
In a profound sense, the answer to the waiting has already come, however, we continue to wait. We continue to feel pain and to walk through suffering. Why?
As I was reading in the New Testament book of Titus, it encouraged me to think through this season of Advent as the season that marks God coming to dwell with us.
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself ta people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:11-14 ESV
Why wait? The waiting allows our hearts to be drawn deeper into a relationship with the only One who can save us from ourselves and this world. The encouraging news is that we can and do experience the joy of Jesus here and now, but not in full. For the fullness of joy, hope and restoration, we continue to long - thus, the season of Advent.
Romans 8:19, 23 ESV says, “For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
This year has been filled with increased groaning, has it not? It has produced in us a deeper longing for Jesus to come back and restore that which has been lost. While we eagerly wait for Jesus to come back and make all things right, we designate these weeks leading up to Christmas as a time to remember the promises of God: the promises that He has made, the promises that He has kept, and the promises that we still hold onto today.
THE HOW
How are we then to wait? In Romans we are reminded to wait with patience and expectation for our blessed hope.
Romans 8:24-25 ESV says, “Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we await for it with patience.”
RESOURCES
Here are a few resources (in no particular order) to help make this a season of true and lasting joy for you and your family.
Emmanuel: An Invitation to Prepare Him Room at Christmas and Always - Ruth Chou Simons
The Dawning of Indestructible Joy - John Piper
Come Let Us Adore Him - Paul David Tripp
Shadow & Light - Tsh Oxendreider
The Greatest Gift - Ann Voskamp
Don’t see a resource that your family has come to love during Advent? Please leave a comment and let us know about it!
This Advent season, my prayer is that we would not miss the opportunity that awaits.
With each decoration placed this Christmas season, may we pray for our lives to “adorn” the doctrine of the God in whom we profess belief.
With each gift wrapped may we remember the gift of God coming to earth to live with us, but also the gift of waiting.
With each candle lit, may we remember the Light that shines in the darkness, lighting our path forward, and may its flame ignite in us a deeper longing for that which this world can never fulfill.