ADVENT
A Season of Promise

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First Week of Advent

Read Luke 21:25 – 36

25“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves. 26 People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” 29 Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees; 30 as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is
already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.34“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with
dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life, and that day does not catch you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth. 36 Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

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Something is stirring, something big is going on and we get a whiff of that something in this passage from Luke. What’s going on? We are told that there are signs—markers along the way, things we should be looking out for to get a sense for what is happening. Jesus says, look out for these things:

Signs in the sun, the moon and the stars

Perhaps that blood red sun that has been recently seen at sunset and
the huge harvest moon that hovers over the horizon, the stars—
perhaps a meteor shower . . .

There will be distress among nations

Wars: civil and international, wars being fought without regard to
geographic boundary . . .

There will be roaring of the sea and the waves

A tsunami as has not been seen in generations . . .

People will faint from fear and foreboding

All of the issues that swirl around become so overwhelming that one
has to sit down and catch one’s breath every now and again in order
to keep going . . .

The next sign that will be seen will actually be the Son of Man coming in a cloud just like we read about in the Old Testament. In Daniel 7:13 we read about the son of man coming with the clouds of heaven.

What can all of these signs possibly mean? What are we
to do when these things begin to take place and we sense that
the signs are all around us?

TAKE NOTICE!! YIKES!! SOMETHING IS STIRRING!!

Okay, okay, you’ve got my attention now what? How and why and when and what is going on?

Jesus says it’s like a tree. To try to understand all of this, Jesus breaks it down into a parable:

Look at the fig tree and all the trees for that matter . . . when the fig tree or any tree sprouts its leaves we all know that is the indicator that summer is already near, and so, by analogy when you see these signs previously outlined (signs in the sun, etc., distress, roaring, fainting) then you know the kingdom of
God is near.

The key to all of this is to be on guard—don’t let these things catch you unexpectedly and unawares. What can you do?

The best way to prepare, the best way to handle this news, the best way to be in these times when something is stirring is to be alert and pray.

Light the first candle of the Advent Wreath.

Prayer:

As we prepare our homes and ourselves for Christmas
and the child in the manger
keep us alert and ready to welcome the Son of Man
in all his glory on that glorious day of your choosing.
Come Lord Jesus and grant us your peace we pray. Amen

NEXT: Advent Devotional - Week TWO >>>

Updated December 2, 2009