Tomorrow?is the first Sunday of Advent,?the first day of the Christian calendar for many Christian churches. Advent simply?means ?coming.? Christ came to make Himself at home among us. He took on a human life like ours. We remember Christ?s coming as Immanuel, God with us.
As a practical suggestion for living Advent in the next four weeks, I will suggest a couple of questions on the theme. There?are?two scripture passages where Jesus uses the word ?Come? as an invitation to His disciples.
In Matthew 11, Jesus invites, ?Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.? In Matthew 4, when He calls some of His first followers, He invites, ?Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men.?
Come to me. Come follow me.
As we enter a season of remembering Christ?s coming to us, perhaps a good way to live it to take these two invitations of Jesus and turn them into questions that begin our day, and carry us through our day:
- Jesus, how are You inviting me to come to You as I begin this new day?
- Jesus, how are You inviting me to come follow You as I walk through this day?
Perhaps you can read a gospel this month with these two questions in mind. How are You inviting me to come to You and follow You in this passage?
Another valuable resource for Advent - Todd Hunter of Holy Trinity Anglican Church will be posting Seasonal Reflections?on Advent.
