December 1
Scripture: Rom 2:4
Source author: James Stuart Bell
December 1
Repent, Christmas Is at Hand! Can’t you see that [God’s] kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? —Romans 2:4
It was a typical kick-off sermon on the first Sunday in Advent. My distinguished-looking pastor with his green accented robes admonished us to make room for the Christ child in our hearts, etc. But then he inserted the word repentance, and I was startled. Being a liturgical Christian, I thought of Lent as the time of repentance, moving toward Good Friday and Easter. But he explained that the early church saw “making room” in their hearts during Advent as a cleansing operation. When the Christ child “arrived” around four weeks later on Christmas, the room in their hearts would be swept clean of habitual sins. Then they would be more fit to celebrate His arrival. I’ve adopted that idea. It doesn’t mean that I’m now somber in Advent, in a state of mourning. But I hope to make room for God and others by denying myself more often and putting them first. And then, on December 25, I’ll have even more room to celebrate!
Making room for God and others means first putting off the old self. — James Stuart Bell —