Advent Week One

Our Advent theme this week in the Long-Expected Jesus (Nazarene Publishing House) devotion book is "He is Coming".  We focus on the reality that just as Jesus came to earth as a baby boy in Bethlehem we believe in the reality that Jesus will come again.  Paul wrote the church church in Corinth - Now you have every spiritual gift you need as you eagerly wait for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:7NLT)  Some simple lessons from this verse!

1. We are called to be prepared by gaining every spiritual gift God has for us in our lives.  If we want to be ready and prepared for Christ return or for Christ to show up in our lives when we are willing to seek the Holy Spirit.  Most of us don't like being caught unprepared in our lives.  School work undone, work presentation not completed, people showing up at your house and turkey still frozen... the list goes on for times when we don't not being prepared.  Spiritually we want to be prepared!  Growing in the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives!  Connected with Christ in a way we are comfortable when He shows up!

2. When we are prepared we eagerly wait for Jesus to return.  There can be a great since of anticipation when Jesus shows up in our lives or when Jesus comes to restore the world to its proper order.  We don't have to live in fear of those moments.  We don't have to be embarrassed that we caught off guard.  We can live eargerly longing and waiting for Jesus.  

For 400 years the people of Israel lived without hearing from God.  No prophet spoke to the people.  No glory of God came down on the temple in Jerusalem.  They waiting for a Messiah to come.  When the Messiah did come the people of God where not prepared to receive Jesus.  We are honored to live in a day when the Holy Spirit of God dwells in our heart and His Spirit can help us live connected with God and prepared for Jesus to show up in our lives or in the world!