Why Advent?

When I experience advent every year it's a personal journey with God. Advent means the arrival of a person, so this is a time I set aside every year to prepare for the arrival of Jesus. While He is here already and exists eternally, I have come to realize it is easy for forget His presence in my life. I lose sight of how He has worked in my life. The past two years have been so hard that I found myself questioning, wondering, fearing, and feeling angry more than I expected. Simply put: I need to prepare for His presence because I need Christmas. I need that reminder of the infant who came long ago with the sole purpose to set me free.

This year I decided to write daily devotions about this journey to knowing Jesus deeper during Advent. I feel a little disconnected from Him, if I'm honest. I feel a little bit like I just want to bypass the infant in the manager and go straight to the man who elavated the worth and value of every woman He encountered. However, if I bypass the infant, I can't connect with the man and I am unable to fully grasp the power of the cross. I have to first lay eyes upon the child who was birthed in a cave meant for animals to reside, the most unclean scene and even laid in a feeding troth where animals ate from. It was hardly the sterile scene mothers experience today when they give birth, but it had to be. This infant's arrival in this manger flipped the script on what was seen as holy and pure right from His birth! He was born Holy and Pure, fully God incarnate within an environment that bore the uncleaniness label of His Jewish heritage. He had to come into the world this way because He didn't just come for the Jew, but for all mankind. His name was Jesus, which is the Greek version of Joshua and means "the Lord saves." Jesus the Messiah, the Anointed One, and the list can go on. His name, Jesus, would be the name that brings forgiveness, restoration, and healing to all who need it. His name, Jesus, would be laughed and scorned, even minimized to a historical figure. His name, Jesus, would never be forgotten though, even by the one who does not believe, or the ones who would one day chant for His death.

As I start this introduction to this journey, I encourage you to read Matthew chapters 1 and 2 this week. These chapters highlight Who Jesus is both in His Jewish heritage as a human, but also His origins from the divine. It also highlights the powerful "yes" His mother gave, consenting for His birth to occur. It also is the only personal account of Joseph, His earthly father and step-father, who decided to not only to marry His mother, but also protect this infant as his own. Since we are just starting out on our journey, we need to remember the origin of this infant's life. We need to not forget Who we are expecting to arrive.

Today's Name: Jesus

Reflection Questions

1) Looking back at the past two years, where have you lost sight of Jesus in your life? List some ways you can see His hand was at work these past two years.

2) Jesus' arrival broke barriers of division from the moment He was born. What are some places your heart is divided between loving and needing His presence in your life versus going your own way or leaving Him behind?

3) The name, Jesus, has great meaning: The Lord Saves. Right now, what does "The Lord Saves" mean to you?

Jesus, help me connect with you on this journey. May my heart soften to your tenderness and my eyes gaze upon the tiniest details of who you are. May I prepare for your arrival by growing deeper in my knowledge of Who YOU are. Thank you for your patience and long-suffering with me. Thank you for always lovinging bringing back into Your Presence. Let me rest there in Your embrace these days ahead. In Your name, Amen.