ADVENT DEVOTIONAL | INTRODUCTION
In Deuteronomy 6 we are encouraged to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our strength. We are encouraged to share the story and commands of God with our children when we are at home, on the road, when we go to bed, and when we are getting up. In short, we are to immerse ourselves in the redemptive narrative of God. The early Hebrews held festivals throughout the year, recounting and celebrating the way God had revealed himself to them as a nation. Similarly, celebrating the various festivals of the Christian year is a way to mark time and to emphasize the various aspects of the life of Christ and the story of redemption.
THE SEASON OF ADVENT
The great proclamation "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14) assures us that God has entered human history through the incarnation of the Son. During the season of Advent (the four weeks before Christmas) we remember the first coming of Christ. However, we also anticipate Christ's second advent, his second coming when all things will be made new. Thus, Advent is a season of waiting and is designed to cultivate our awareness of God's actions - past, present, and future.
KINGDOM ARRIVING
This year we will be focusing on the theme, "Kingdom Arriving." In our sermon series we will continue our study in the Gospel of Matthew, working backwards from the Beatitudes to the birth of Jesus. In this devotional, however, we will also be looking forward to Jesus' birth through the fulfillment of Old Testament psalms and prophecies.
I would encourage you to engage with this devotional as an individual, family, or small group. I will be posting a new blog every Sunday in Advent, with a final post on Christmas Eve.
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