Have you celebrated Christmas not fully understanding the meaning of Advent? For years I did, but now have a deep appreciation for the meaning of Advent and how it relates to our faith.
May these 3 reasons to focus on Christ during the Holidays enlighten you on the meaning of Advent.
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Luke 2:8-12 NIV
Advent is one of my favorite times of the year. I love the anticipation of Christmas, reflecting on the birth of Jesus and how He dramatically changed the world.
The meaning of Advent is to come or arrive. Jesus was the most important person to arrive on earth.
Although many people have lost sight of why we celebrate Christmas the true meaning of Advent will never be erased.
The Meaning of Advent
To understand the meaning of Advent let’s go back to Christ’s birth.
As Mary the mother of Jesus prepared to give birth, the shepherds were tending their flocks.
In the gospel of Luke, when the angels appeared to declare the birth of Christ, the shepherds were not idle waiting for something to happen; they were busy and purposeful.
We are living in our fields too preparing for Christmas and the impact of Christ in our hearts every day. But unlike the shepherds who were alone, we have the Holy Spirit to guide us.
When Jesus prepared to die, He told His disciples He had to leave but the Holy Spirit would come and be their guide, counselor, and comforter.
Jesus arrived to save us from ourselves and death and to have an intimate relationship with us.
Before the birth of Christ, the meaning of Advent (the arrival of Jesus) was revealed hundreds of years earlier through Old Testament prophets.
The Meaning of Advent: 4 Bible Verses
In the Bible, hundreds of prophecies point to the coming Messiah.
#1 “The Lord declares that he will make a house for you—a dynasty of kings! For when you die and are buried with your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, your own offspring, and I will make his kingdom strong.
He is the one who will build a house—a temple—for my name. And I will secure his royal throne forever.”
2 Samuel 7:11-13 NLT
#2 “But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.
Isaiah 53:5 NLT
#3 Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world?
What is his name—and his son’s name? Tell me if you know!
Proverbs 30:4 NLT
But His arrival is only the beginning of the story.
His life and death ushered in the hope of eternal life and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit on earth.
#4 “But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counselor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him (the Holy Spirit) to you [to be in close fellowship with you].”
John 16:7 AMP
3 Reasons to Focus on Christ
Despite the distractions and commercialism of Christmas, we can focus on the meaning of Advent (the arrival of Christ) for three important reasons.
1)His promises endure forever. Because God is a promise keeper we celebrate His arrival and resurrection. Christmas gives Christians a stage to declare His name, His hope, and His plans.
2)He is in our midst and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us during Advent and any season. Instead of biding time while waiting for the next season of life, a change in our circumstances, or the second coming of Christ, we can live the promise of advent today.
3)Jesus has come as God promised, and we are privileged to have access to Him. Embracing His presence through prayer, worship, loving others, and service we experience the peace and joy of Advent every day.
A Prayer for Advent
Dear Lord,
What a privilege to celebrate your birth during the Advent season. As the world turns to all things Christmas, help me stay focused on You, the reason for the season.
As we move through the holidays keep my spirit filled with purpose and joy despite what goes on around me.
After Advent may I remember You are present every day so I can walk in joy, peace, and gratitude despite the season.
Amen
This article on The Meaning of Advent was published as part of the Daily Daybreak Devotions on Crossmap.com.
Author
Mary Rooney Armand
Mary is the creator and writer for the faith-based blog ButterflyLiving.org. Her writing is featured on multiple websites, and she is the author of, “Identity, Understanding, and Accepting Who I am in Christ” and Life Changing Stories, a devotional collection, available on Amazon.
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