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Word from Nairnshire
by Sandy Shaw
Around 1,500 years ago the church introduced this season called Advent, for various reasons.
Many regarded Advent as a time of spiritual preparation, remembering the birth of Jesus Christ, as others prepared for Epiphany or the manifestation of Christ, whilst some recalled that Jesus Christ was returning and coming again. All aspects are important.
Advent means the glory of the coming of the Lord Jesus, implying the breaking through of the divine into human history – the supernatural into the natural.
It involves something great impending from the side of heaven.
Advent is when Jesus Christ breaks through!
It has nothing to do with four Sundays, although that may help some. It has nothing to do with lighting candles, although that too may help others.
Advent has to do with Almighty God breaking through into some troubled tortured life that is in turmoil, and giving peace.
Advent is when God breaks through, into an estranged heart, if only for a moment, but a life is changed for ever.
One of the words often read, taught and spoken about, during Advent is ‘comfort’, which does not mean to mollycoddle, or wrap someone in cotton wool, and keep them from the truth.
To comfort is to put strength into people’s hearts, or fortify and fortress them, enabling them to become like some impregnable castle.
Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit is our Comforter.
This means that God will stand by a man in his need, and brace his heart, and nerve his arm, and make him more than conqueror.
Comfort is certainly not being sentimental, but central and essential.
Jesus performed miracles because He could not bear to see people suffering.
To the leper, or the widow at Nain, or the five thousand fed and satisfied, that was Advent!
Sandy Shaw
Nairn Christian Fellowship
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Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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