We have just begun the season of advent at First United Methodist Church. Advent is a compound word made from the Latin words ad and venire which literally means “to come to.” This is a season in which God “comes to us” by taking flesh in Jesus Christ. We read about this miracle, the incarnation, in the first chapter of the gospel of St. John. Advent is also a season when we “come to” God. Notice in Luke 2:15 [show]Luke 2:15
When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." (ESV)
how the shepherds said to one another “let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened”. More visitors will probably attend our services on Christmas Eve than other times of the year. What would it look like if those with faith in Christ saw advent and Christmas as an opportunity to invite others to “come to” know Him? Helping others come to God is a wonderful way to put our faith into practice during this season. We can do that by inviting others to join us for Christmas Eve and by showing everyone who visits hospitality. We can also do that by encouraging them to attend the many ministries we perform here in the name of Jesus.
As we all know, the culture often celebrates this season in absurd ways. At the very least, people are encouraged to over buy and over eat. If the past is any indication, the media will probably pick up a story about someone taking this holiday to a consumerist, secular extreme. Perhaps they will be hailed for their enthusiasm. As Christians, we should be more introspective. It isn’t necessary for us to reject the culture outright because as John 3:16 [show]John 3:16
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (ESV)
states, “God so loved the world.” It is, however, important for us to be inwardly and outwardly on a different path. Reason tells us that if we seek God we will find Him. When we “come to” know Him, we will be challenged to not only love God, but also our fellow human beings (1 Cor. 13 [show]1 Corinthians 13
If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (ESV)
). We show love to our fellow human beings by performing acts of mercy and kindness during this season. If we are equipped and able, we can roll up our sleeves and take up the challenge of assisting CCAP with the Christmas distribution on December 21 and 22. We can also perform these acts by assisting the youth with their outreach through TOPS (Budget Motel). Or, we can give blood, sing carols at the Rose home, send a letter to a soldier, or use our own creativity to find ways to show Christian love during this time. All of these are things we can do to celebrate advent and Christmas in holy ways! They will help us be a light to the world during this season. Grace and Peace, Pastor Will
