Our world is filled with distractions. With a phone always in reach, we can scroll through social feeds, search for information, watch a video, or send a text. An instant dopamine hit draws us in at the risk of being unable to stay focused – a risk most of us take daily. Constantly looking at our phones may seem normal, but it can negatively affect our interactions with others, the way we engage with and books, and our productivity at work. For Christians, the question also arises: How can we refocus on Christ in this technologically wired world if our thoughts are constantly being tugged in various directions?
One way is by celebrating Advent.
This is more than just decorating or counting down the days before Christmas. To refocus on Jesus, we must truly engage with Advent, taking the time to think about what this season means. For Advent invites us to pause and consider the larger story of our world. We are shown that life is about more than staring at screens or scrolling – our Savior has come to rescue us from sin and death and is coming again.
This truth has the power to change everything if we step away from our hectic schedules and distractions and refocus on Christ.
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Advent spans the four weeks leading up to Christmas. During this season, the church reflects on the joy and wonder of Jesus’ first advent when He came into the world to save us. As John 1:14 says, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (NIV). Advent and Christmas testify to the truth that God the Son became a man to rescue us. Jesus, the Light of the world, has overcome the darkness (John 1:4-5).
Not only do we remember the birth of Christ, but we also look forward to His future coming. He has already fulfilled prophecies at His birth and during His ministry, but there are many more yet to be fulfilled. Our prayer and cry during Advent are “Come, Lord Jesus!” Just as the Israelites waited long years of darkness for the first coming of the Messiah, we too await our Savior’s coming to rule on the throne of David and bring restoration. To fulfill the rest of the promises of Scripture.
The Advent season invites us to consider anew the promises of Scripture and turn our eyes back to our Savior. He is our hope and salvation.
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Advent is also a perfect time to refocus on Christ because of the symbols and traditions of the season. We see specific decorations that represent aspects of Jesus’ coming, hear the music that praises Him, and taste the bread and wine during communion. In some denominations, there are practices such as the Moravian tradition of the love feast, which involves coffee and homemade buns, as well as candles, during Christmas services. Through a variety of sights and senses, our attention is directed toward Christ.
These traditions and decorations are deliberate and have deeper meanings. An Advent wreath, for example, adds to the festive atmosphere. But it also visually allows us to think about important truths. The circular wreath represents God’s eternal nature and love, while the candles traditionally represent a theme for each week of Advent. Often, in the middle sits the Christ candle to remind us that He is the Light who came into our world to defeat the darkness. Using an Advent wreath allows us to pause in our daily life to light a candle and reflect on the coming of Christ and His soon return.
Likewise, the different sanctuary colors we see in a church compel us to ponder the coming of Christ. Lots of churches regularly use blue during Advent to convey a sense of hope. Purple is another color commonly used by congregations during this season, though as Rev. Douglas Escue noted in his article about liturgical colors, purple is usually a penitential color “which has come to represent somberness and solemnity, penitence, and prayer.” Regardless of the specific colors we use to adorn the sanctuary, we can set our minds on Christ and find hope by intentionally engaging with the symbolism and traditions.
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Most believers read from the Gospels at some point during Advent. Even if they have not been consistent at reading God’s Word the other parts of the year, they will likely skim their church’s suggested readings on Sundays to read from Matthew or Luke. Since churches are actively encouraging members to read from Scripture during this time, doing so can help the busy Christian reorient his or her thoughts on Jesus.
Whether someone is reading from Matthew 1-2 or Luke 1-2, the entire story of the events surrounding Christ’s birth does not take long to read. Believers can carve out time to meditate on Jesus coming as Immanuel, God with us, and reflect on the faithfulness of people like Mary, Elizabeth, Joseph, Simeon, and Anna. But we should not stop there. We can also expand our reading and dive into the prophecies about Jesus’ birth, such as those found in Isaiah and Micah, and read about the promise of His return in prophecy and the book of Revelation.
As we read or listen to Scripture during Advent, we will naturally find ourselves thinking more of our Savior and what He came to accomplish. The joy and hope surrounding the future day of His second coming will grow in us, and we will begin to focus more on living for Him in this interim period between the two advents (see Matthew 24:45-47).
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Another customary practice during this season is to read an Advent or Christmas devotional, which, for many Christians, is a cherished tradition. Using devotion is certainly not mandated, but reading can direct a believer’s thoughts back to the Lord. And this is what we need in the frenzy of the Christmas season and generally in a culture of distraction.
Once we have decided to utilize an Advent devotional, our next task is choosing one. There are numerous options, which can be overwhelming. Instead of feeling as if we are obligated to read all the Advent books available, we should assess what types of topics would interest or challenge us. Would we enjoy one that ties in Christmas hymns, carols, or crafts? Do we want an intensive study of Scripture or a book that invites us to meditate on various aspects of the Advent season? What would best serve us in our situation? For instance, are we facing a new change or the loss of a loved one this holiday? Asking these questions can help us narrow down the options and make a thoughtful choice.
We should also consider the devotionals from our churches or other ministries with which we are involved. Oftentimes, congregations will develop an Advent Bible reading plan with accompanying devotionals. Ministries like Our Daily Bread also regularly create similar plans and booklets.
Taking the initiative to read an Advent-themed book is a wonderful way to focus more on Christ. Through a devotional, we are invited to experience the wonder and hope of the season.
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From the time of Jesus’ ascension, believers have been waiting – for Jesus to come again, for all the promises to be fulfilled, for the kingdom to come, for our resurrection bodies, for the renewal of all things. Every day, we live in anticipation of the Lord making everything new. But during Advent, this emphasis on waiting is heightened. Collectively, we pause to remember that we are still waiting for the desire of our hearts: Our Lord’s return.
We cannot help but reflect on Jesus when we engage in this posture of waiting and longing. Every aspect of Advent directs us toward our Savior, from the candles we light to the carols we sing. As we raise our voices in song to “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” we are expressing this longing.
So, let us immerse ourselves in the practices that minister to us as we wait. To worship with other believers, take communion, and watch the lighting of the candles of the Advent wreath. In so doing, we show the world that we are waiting for something better than fancy wrappings and hectic holidays. Our focus is directed on Jesus, our Lord, and Friend, with whom we look forward to spending eternity.
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We can appreciate having a period of increased emphasis on Christ. Advent offers us a unique set of weeks each year to reorient on our Savior and the promises of Scripture. Sometimes, our mentality is to focus on Jesus during Advent and Christmas, but then our attention is redirected once the holidays are over. The decorations come down, and our lives return to “business as normal.”
But this year, we can approach the season differently. If we desire a closer walk with Jesus, then we can implement the habits we form during Advent for the rest of the year. We can continue to regularly read Scripture and follow Bible reading plans, utilizing devotionals and studies. We can place symbols and decorations in our home that direct our focus to Christ, such as a cross or the Ichthys (Jesus fish), or hang biblically themed artwork. We can continue to meet with other believers at church, participating in the ordinances and historic traditions. The habits we establish can continue to inspire and influence us throughout the year as we reorient our lives around what truly matters – our relationship with the Lord Jesus.
Let us turn off the devices and silence the notifications. A time of waiting, longing, hope, and joy awaits us, one that invites us to look up and remember that our Savior is coming. Maranatha!
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