Many of you know that I'm a "word nerd". I don't mind that moniker because it's true--I love how language offers so many unique and unexpected surprises. These twists and turns happen during our conversations, when we get lost in our favorite books and when we open our laptops to compose a life-giving article. Words are the stuff of life because words ARE life. Let's not forget the first chapter in the Gospel of John. How beautifully ironic are the gospel writer's words, for they form the "genesis" of this fourth book of the New Testament: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it" (John 1:1-5, NRSV). How exciting is it, dear believer, that God's Word is not only written, spoken and preached but also embodied in the person of Jesus Christ! The Greek word for "word" here is "logos" which means, "logic, rationale, reason". As we move into Advent, we cannot think about God's first arrival in Jesus Christ without acknowledging that the Son of God, born long ago in a Bethlehem manger, is indeed the "reason" for the season. Jesus is God's Word in the flesh. God decided to surprise us by speaking the Truth into existence through the incarnation of Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Words have life because Jesus is life. The words he speaks in and through the pages of the canonized Bible were penned centuries ago yet they still come to life just as powerfully as when they were first read! Bible readers are taken on a wistful journey whenever we study the Word. We experience resurrection when we submit ourselves to the whims and fancies of the Holy Spirit found in verses of scripture. For the disciple, every time we focus our gaze upon a Bible passage we must anticipate that it will lead us into a deeper, more profound experience of faith than we previously enjoyed. Put another way, we must let the advent of God in Christ lead us into a life-altering adventure of faith.
And so it was that my study of the words "advent' and "adventure" happened unexpectedly as I prepared to write this article. While analyzing the roots of the word "advent" I stumbled across one of its derivatives. This particular derivative reminded me of the word "adventure." Sure enough, both words stem from the latin verb "advenire" which means "arrive at, come to." Incidentally, Advent is a season when we anticipate, hope for, the arrival of Jesus--not just in the remembrance of his first coming as a child born to Mary and Joseph but also in the sense that we expect Jesus to show up both now and finally at Christ's second coming. As we wait expectantly, we hope for that which we do not yet see with our own eyes. Yet, by faith, we join God in the adventure of planning for his arrival. We do not grieve as those who have no hope (1 Thess. 4:13) but instead anticipate Jesus' arrival among us as we gather to worship, fellowship, serve, study and share God's love with a community in need. The season of Advent conveys a great sense of adventure; however, I submit to you, dear friend, that we must reclaim a worshipful mood of anticipation, eagerness and cheer at this meaningful and holy time of year that seems to be lost among churchgoers around the world.
Let's not forget that Advent begins the new Christian year. Advent is a season which anticipates Christmas (which anticipates Epiphany, then Lent, then Easter, then Pentecost and the season following Pentecost). The Christian year gives us a rhythm that keeps us focused on our purpose and calling. And what is that purpose and calling? To keep our eyes on Christ and never stop serving him while he visits us through his Spirit and as we wait on his second and final arrival to earth. One great way to bolster our sense of adventure during Advent is to allow the candles of the Advent wreath to serve as a guide for our outward expressions of faith during our December worship. Consider the following possibilities that our 2023 Advent season offers us in the way of adventure:
- HOPE: Jesus Christ is our "...hope of glory" (Col. 1:27). So how can the hope that we enjoy in Christ's promises to return translate into tangible expressions of adventurous faith? Heb. 11:1 defines hope thusly: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." When's the last time you opened an Advent calendar? Be honest--were you a kid? Well, here's an adventurous way to enjoy the Advent season--create your own, online digital version (and share it with friends)! Fill the calendar with videos, images and texts that help you prepare your heart for the arrival of Jesus (go here: https://adventmyfriend.com/). There is hope in Christ alone!
- PEACE: What if you were to choose a new place in your home (or coffee shop, library or quiet spot) where you committed to study scripture that helped you prepare for the arrival of the Christ child? Go to https://adventword.org and sign up free to receive the daily Advent word for each day during the Advent season. Find that favorite, quiet place, close your eyes and pray. Ask God to give you the peace that passes understanding that will guard your heart and mind in your pursuit of the Prince of Peace this Advent.
- JOY: When's the last time you communicated with an old friend or family member? When's the last time you called a former teammate or co-worker to catch up? Well what if you went a step further with your phone calls and texts and you decided to create an evening get-together for people who've encouraged you and blessed you during 2023? Consider the acrostic JOY (Jesus, Others, Yourself) and experience the joy of the Lord in the strength of the people God's used to bless you all year long (Neh. 8:10). When you meet, offer to pray for the evening and use it as an opportunity to demonstrate the Lord's profound joy within you!
- LOVE: I challenge you to reach out to someone you'd never think to speak to or engage this Advent season. What if you were to say "hello" or initiate a conversation with someone about a familiar experience or even invite a stranger to one of our Advent services? Think about it like this: God sent Jesus into our world to love us--not from a distance, but up close and personal--so that we could see what Love is and what Love does. In the same way, ask God to give you moments--at the grocery store, in the gym, at the bank, at a restaurant--that will help you reach out in love, especially if the person you meet seems to appear lonely, hurting or in distress. Jesus came down to earth to meet us where we are. When we were lonely, hurting and in distress, Jesus stretched out his arms on Calvary's cross. Certainly you and I can lovingly suffer for others during Advent, out of thanksgiving for Christ's sacrifice.
The aforementioned suggestions are just some of the ways you and I can approach the Advent season with a renewed sense of adventure. I find it wonderfully intriguing that the words "advent" and "adventure" are related. After all, Advent is not a time to remain lazy, idle or simply do nothing; instead, Advent is an expectant time of active waiting, serving one another in love while we look around for 1) Jesus to show up in our midst, and 2) with the sound of the trumpet of the archangel (1 Thess. 4:16). Simultaneously, we can make Advent an Adventure if we truly commit to immersing ourselves (as good Baptists do!) in the faith-filled opportunities that await us.
So--will you join me in letting the Advent candles of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love light our way to an adventurous Advent in 2023? If you choose to say "yes" this Advent-ure, will you please call, text or tell me in person about your experiences (of hope, peace, joy and love)? One thing's for sure: since we know Jesus is coming back one day to collect his own and take us to live eternally with him, can we ever look at this interim period of waiting (known as Advent) as anything less than an adventure?
This Advent season I'm going all in. I don't want to miss the Advent-ure that God has planned for you, for me and for all of God's people. So let's lift our eyes toward heaven, lift our voices in song, and faithfully participate in this beautiful, holy season of advent--it's truly an adventure of a lifetime!
Join me in the Advent-ure--will you?
><> Pastor Will <><
