Advent Devotional

(I wrote the following Advent devotional for Christ UMC, in Cabot Arkansas a couple of weeks ago, and I wanted to share it also with you, my readers.)

Advent Devotional 2011



 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”  Acts 1:11 (NLT)

In its article on Advent, the iLumina encyclopedia makes the following comment:

Advent means coming, and it is a time of preparation for Christmas—the celebration of Christ’s first coming. Advent also looks ahead to the Second Coming.

                This is always a special time of year for us as Christians when we celebrate the first coming of our Lord Jesus, and we focus on everything that His first coming means to us. Yet we are assured that just as sure as promises and prophecies of His coming to save us were fulfilled, so will be the promise of His coming again to complete what He began. As the writer of Hebrews tells us:

“so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.”      Hebrews 9:28 (NLT)

                The New Testament church seems to have lived in great anticipation when Christ would return and make all things new. On one occasion Paul admonished the believers:

But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief.                1 Thessalonians 4:5 (NLT)

As we celebrate His coming this advent season, let us also rejoice in the promise of His return.