December 1, 2023
Beloved of God,
Advent marks the start of the “Christian year” on the liturgical calendar.
Advent also marks the start of God’s greatest work to give us all hope: His incarnation in the Person of Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, the Son of God, the Savior of the world.
Advent roots us in the ancient promises of scripture that God would take decisive action to deliver us from evil and to give us hope of a better life. Advent prepares us, through the words of prophets from Moses to John the Baptist, for the arrival of a Redeemer who could (and would!) do for us what we never could for ourselves.
That Redeemer, that physical Presence of God Almighty, entered our world in the womb of a virgin
named Mary, and finally in the form of a baby born in a stable. That helpless baby grew up to be a mighty man. He identified with sinners, lived out the good values of God’s righteousness and the abundant grace of God’s merciful love, sacrificed Himself to pay for our moral and spiritual failures, died to satisfy the requirements of justice, rose from the dead to defeat all the powers of darkness, sent His own Spirit into the souls of those willing to receive His strength and life, and now intercedes for us without ceasing that we might be incarnations of the hope He offers everyone.
Jesus gives to anyone willing to entrust themselves to His Lordship the best possible life one can have in this troubled, sin-sick world and eventually an infinitely and eternally good life in the next world. He gives us a lot of hope!
This is such good news that it seems impossible to love someone, and not make them aware of it (if
they are not already) or (if they are already aware of it) not invite them to experience all the more the blessing of the hope it gives.
This Advent, won’t you tell those you care about (and who are at all open to hear about it) why the
Christmas story makes you so happy and hopeful – and maybe how you think it could make them still happier and more hopeful? Won’t you invite some others to come with you to worship, a Christmas carol sing or a church fellowship gathering to experience a suggestion of how good the good news of Jesus is?
It is a season when people are especially receptive to the idea of trying out some such thing. And if you invite them with genuine kindness who would, even if they decide to decline, mind your gracious, generous offer?
Warmly in Christ,
Rob & Adele
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