Show Notes
Advent is here — and while the world races toward overspending, overindulging, and overdoing everything, Scripture calls us to something far better. Paul urges believers to “put on the armor of light” by choosing restraint, peace, and kindness in a season where many feel pressure and anxiety. When we slow down, show grace, and care for the people around us, we reflect the light of Christ in the most practical ways — even in long checkout lines or crowded streets.
Join us as we begin Advent with hope, watching for Christ’s coming while living in a way that gives others a glimpse of His love — a quiet yet powerful witness in a world longing for peace.
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Episode Transcript
It’s here, what for many people is, as the song goes, the most wonderful time of the year. Thank you for joining us in this first week of Advent as we look ahead to celebrating the Incarnation, God’s great gift to the world of a reconciling Savior.
Let us read from the book of Romans, chapter 13, verses 11 to 14.
And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Given the increasing divide between the church and contemporary culture, it would be short-sighted to dismiss the opportunity afforded by the sharing of some increasingly rare common ground. And while Santa Claus and the Savior are different emphases, the Advent season provides an occasion to share a measure of agreement about aspirations like peace on earth and goodwill to all men, with people who may reject the idea of a God who loves them.
With that in mind, how might we look to celebrate the Father of Lights rather than Father Christmas and mark the coming weeks in a way that might give others pause for reflection? Though it may sound rather severe, Paul’s admonishment to the Romans offers a pointer. Essentially, it cautions believers to exercise restraint rather than indulging in excesses of the coming weeks.
This doesn’t mean acting like a wet blanket. It means knowing how to enjoy today without regretting having done so tomorrow. Consider that a third of American adults took on some Christmas debt last year. Or consider how easy it is to go from enjoying the goodness of God’s creation as we drink and feast to overindulging. There’s a fine line between glee and gluttony.
Not overdoing things may be an obvious choice to make, but it’s not the only way we can live honorably. Paul also talks about avoiding quarrels and jealousy. Simply determining to do this in the next month or so could be quietly revolutionary. As others get stressed out trying to complete their perfect Christmas lists, slowing down and letting people with only a handful of items go ahead of you at a busy grocery store checkout, or letting them into a line of snarled traffic could be an unexpected seasonal grace. Paul positions such instincts as wearing armor of light. If there is, as some maintain, war on Christmas, kindness may be the best way to fight.
And now our reading from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 24, verses 36 to 44.
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
And now would you join me in praying?
Dear Lord, as we look ahead to the celebration of the Incarnation, may we walk the coming Advent days with joyful anticipation and peaceful expectation. Knowing that you give us richly all things to enjoy. We want to embody your life-giving goodness and the ways that we spend our time and our money. Help us to be generous and not wasteful. Give us wisdom through your Holy Spirit to know the difference. In a world that often seems to work hard at making Christmas perfect, may our peaceful example be a witness that, ultimately, it’s not gifts and gourmet food that matters, but knowing your love and forgiveness, your true and transforming peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
And finally, a reading from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 21, verses 25 to 36.
“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
“Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap. For it will come on all those who live on the face of the whole earth. Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
