2 Powerful Reminders From Advent

How can we be in the season of Advent already? I imagine this thought has crossed your mind, just as it has mine. In this season, people love to talk about how busy they are. Our schedules overflow with shopping, decorating and baking along with all the traditional church activities.

As believers, we have the freedom to enjoy all these signs of the season, but if you’re like me, you need the focus Advent brings. Let’s examine two specific reminders from Advent to help keep us centered on Christ.

Advent Reminds Us to Love

Advent as a season is a time that reminds us that the world’s selfishness is passing away. The word “advent” means “appear,” and in this season, we think about a time when Jesus will come back and all will be made right. The Scriptures say we don’t know what day that is going to happen, but they also tell us to be ready, which means, “Don’t let God catch you do something you don’t want him to see.”

Instead, be ready. Be ready to serve. Be ready to love. Be ready to care. Be ready to give. Because, remember, that’s how Jesus treats us. Jesus does not ask us to do anything we haven’t already seen in his life here on earth. He showed us the way–even when it cost him everything. His death on the cross is a demonstration of his love.

And it may be that to love others, you may have to sacrifice. But that’s what Jesus does for us. That’s what Jesus is doing for us even right now. He is always giving to us, whether we are conscious of it or not. So to commit your life to Jesus is to say, “I want to be a part of what you are doing. I want to be available to serve, because I know that you are serving me. I want to be available to give to other people, because you are giving to me. I want to be available to love other people, because you are loving me. ”

That’s what it means to be a Christian. It’s not just that you believe that Jesus is the Son of God. Your faith is demonstrated in your life, by who you are and what you do. And when you love others, you are showing your love for Jesus.

 Advent Reminds Us to Serve

Paul reminds us in Romans 13:13 to “live honorably.” What that means is to live unselfishly, to be kind, to care for other people even if it costs you something. Kindness and unselfishness are often inconvenient. Some people ask things of us that we don’t want to give. So we need to ask God to give us the strength to serve, even when it’s inconvenient.

Why? Again, because that’s how God cares for us. But our world does not understand that kind of behavior. Instead, the world says to make enough money, no matter what it costs, no matter how many people you hurt, so that you are financially secure.

But Jesus never says that. In fact, he says the world in all its riches is going to pass away. And when we stand before God at the Day of Judgment, he will not ask how much money we made. He will say, “Did you love each other? I was sick, and you visited me. I was naked, and you clothed me. You came to see me when I was in prison.”

Serving others is one of the things Jesus asks of his disciples. And according to what God says, that is what matters. But serving also means you might get into trouble, because you’re giving to people in a way they do not understand. But you’re committed to doing it anyway, because that’s what Jesus is doing for you. His loving and serving you sent him to the cross. So you are saying, “I am willing to serve Jesus even if I get in trouble.”

When you commit yourself to Christ, you are saying, “I am ready to serve because Jesus is serving me.” And in the end, our service will be what matters to God—not the other things we do. The message of Advent is “Serve Jesus, knowing that he is coming.”

And so, in this season, we say together that we are serving Jesus, not just because he is coming, but because he loves us, he forgives us, he understands our weakness and our hardships, and he promises to be with us, no matter what happens in life. It never gets too hard for him, because he went to the cross. He understands the worst that can happen in life, and he promises to never leave you or to walk away and forsake you.

Will you pray this Advent prayer with me?

Dear Lord, we thank you that you gave everything to us, that your Son loves us and will never let us go. Help us give all of ourselves to you and serve others in the same way that you serve us. To forgive others in the same way that you forgive us. To love others in the same way that you love us. For we pray this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

What important truths come to mind when you think of Advent? Share this blog and your response on Twitter. Please include my username, @revgregbrewer.

(This post is an adaption of Bishop Brewer’s sermon on November 27, 2016, at San Cristobal Church, Orlando, Florida.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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