AdventSample

Day 18: A Thrill of Hope

Reflection:

Are you still sleeping? Throughout His earthly ministry Jesus often reminded His disciples to stay awake. To keep watch. To be on guard. What for? His coming! Advent is a reminder that Jesus is always active. But so often His movements are subtle. He comes like a thief in the night! (Rev. 16:15). If we doze off, we might miss what He’s doing. To be awake means to be living in right relationship to Jesus. It means listening and waiting for His footsteps. Paul uses the same idea to speak of the life we once had. Before Jesus saved us, we were deep in slumber, but now the night has faded and a new day has come. Advent is the alarm clock ringing for us to get up! “Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.” Advent urges us to wake from sleep and live as people of the light. Before we venture out for the day, Paul urges us to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Or, just like a soldier heading into battle, Paul says we should put on Jesus like we are putting on armor. Sometimes wearing this armor has been interpreted merely as behaving decently, but Jesus is calling us to a great victory! Surely, he expects battle-ready followers? When we put on Jesus, he shields us from the deeds of darkness.

Meditation:

What would it look like for you to “put on Christ?”