Advent

"The word advent means coming. In this season of the year, we focus on the meaning of the coming of the Son of God into the world. And the spirit of our celebration should be the spirit in which he came. And the spirit of that coming is summed up in Luke 19:10 "The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost."" 
That is how John Piper begins his advent devotional The Dawning of Indestructible Joy (you can download the pdf for free!: https://www.desiringgod.org/books/the-dawning-of-indestructible-joy).

Jesus came to seek and save the lost. That means he knew that there were some...many...most...okay all of us...that were lost and needed saving. That he would come and rescue fallen humanity is the good news, the gospel! We first get to really sink our teeth into this story in the nativity as Mary and Joseph, the super excited shepherds peak in on the manger scene. But this all began long before that, long planned, long arranged and long decided on.
God's plan to rescue you was not a response to a foxhole prayer or a knee jerk reaction to something you did. He planned and knew you long before you were born (Ephesians 1:13).

Crazy.

So what is the condition of your soul at the start of this advent? Can God begin a new work, a renewing work in you? Can He find you? Can He locate the key to softening your heart and filling you to the full of His presence this advent? Even in this midst of Christmas plays, family gatherings, racked up credit cards, and ramped up expectations???

Of course He can.

The first advent He took a young virgin and filled her lips with praise that have lasted centuries; He spoke to a group of shepherds keeping watch in the background of society and filled them with wonder and belief; He spoke to a group of wisemen from far away and led them to the Christ Child where they would be filled with joy because they met Joy incarnate.
Filled with praise, filled with wonder, filled with joy.

I want that.

Over the next several weeks as we prepare for Christmas I will attempt once again to write frequently as a compliment to any readings you may be doing already for this special season.

But know this as you begin this new week, advent meant that he was coming...coming to seek you out and to save you.