Advent-URE

Well, were into the Advent season (want to know more about what this is, click HERE)

I like to look at it as the beginning of the annual faith journy, the beginning of this years adventure. Advent means "coming," so just who is coming? The U R E helps define just who is coming and why.

U = US, that's right, you and I and all people. Romans 3:23 (NIV) states "for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We all are sinners. We all deserve punishment. That punishment is death. We need to Repent for those sins. We are in need of Redemption, we are in need of a Redeemer.

R = Repent & Redeemer. For us, the coming of a savior should make us want to prepare. Just as when we invite guests over, we clean the house and prepare it for their coming. Likewise John the Baptist came before Jesus the Messiah calling on us all to prepare the way by repenting for our sin. We need to ready ourselves for the coming of the Redeemer. For most importantly, R points to the coming of redemption, that the Repentant will be Redeemed. So just who is this Redeemer that is coming?

E = Emmanuel. The GOD WITH US. It is Jesus the Messiah. God in the flesh who came to redeem us. "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," yet Romans 3:24-26 (NIV) continues from the above: "and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus."

So this Advent season, I prepare for another church year. Another journey of faith to grow closer to my God and pray that I will this year better walk in His way and do His will. Let the AdventURE begin!