Tag: bible

HOME

Home is a word that resonates deeply during Advent. It evokes warmth, belonging, and the assurance of being loved. Yet, the story of Christ’s birth begins far from the comfort of home. In Luke 2:4-7, we read how Mary and Joseph, displaced by a government census, found no room at the inn. Jesus entered the world not in a house but in a humble manger. This profound beginning reminds us that home is not merely a physical place but a space where God’s presence dwells.

Scripture affirms this truth in Psalm 90:1: “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.” Regardless of where we are or what we face, God’s presence makes any place a home. This assurance carries special meaning during Advent, a season of waiting and preparation. As we anticipate Christ’s coming, we are invited to reflect on what it means to create space for him in our lives. In John 14:23, Jesus promises, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.” God’s desire is to dwell with us—not in distant heavens but in the everyday realities of our lives.

Advent also challenges us to extend this sense of home to others. Who in our communities feels far from home? How can we offer warmth, love, and belonging to those in need? As we prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming, we are reminded that making room for him often means making room for others.

Reflecting on this theme, consider these questions: When have you felt most “at home”? What made that experience special? How might you invite God to dwell more fully in your heart this season? In a world where so many experience displacement—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—how can you be a reflection of God’s home to others?

As Advent progresses, let us remember that home is more than four walls—it is where love resides, where grace abounds, and where God meets us. May we find our true home in God and become a place of refuge and peace for those around us.

RIGHTEOUSNESS

The season of Advent calls us to reflect on God’s righteousness revealed through the coming of Jesus Christ. In Isaiah 11:4-5, the prophet describes the Messiah as one who will judge with righteousness and bring justice for the poor and oppressed: “But with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth… Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” This image reminds us that God’s righteousness is both powerful and compassionate, establishing a world where justice and mercy prevail.

Jesus echoes this theme in Matthew 5:6, saying, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Righteousness is more than personal morality; it is living in right relationship with God and others. It involves seeking fairness, truth, and love in our daily interactions while longing for God’s kingdom to come fully on earth. Through Christ, this righteousness is not earned but graciously given, as Paul reminds us in Romans 3:22: “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.“

As we prepare our hearts this Advent, we are invited to examine how we reflect God’s righteousness in our lives. In what areas do we need to grow in integrity, compassion, and justice? How can we act justly and show mercy in our relationships? What does it mean for us to “hunger and thirst” for righteousness amid a broken world? And how does the promise of Christ’s righteousness fill us with hope as we await his coming?

May this season inspire us to walk in righteousness, reflecting God’s light and love in a world longing for his justice and peace.

REFINE

Advent is a season of preparation, a time when we wait with expectation for the coming of Jesus. The word “refine” resonates deeply with the spiritual work God desires to do in us during this season. Scripture often uses the image of refining fire to describe God’s transformative power. Malachi 3:2-3 declares, “But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” This imagery speaks of a process that is both intense and purposeful. God, like a silversmith, applies the heat of life’s challenges to purify our hearts, removing impurities and shaping us into vessels that reflect his glory.

Isaiah 48:10 reminds us, “See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.” Life’s difficulties can feel like a furnace, yet in God’s hands, these trials serve a higher purpose. They test and strengthen our faith, much like how precious metals are purified through fire. Similarly, 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Advent invites us to view our struggles through the lens of refinement rather than punishment. God is not indifferent to our pain; he is present in the process, shaping us with compassion and purpose.

As we reflect on God’s refining work this Advent, consider these questions: Where is God refining you right now? Are there challenges or struggles that could be part of his purifying work? How do you respond to his refining process—do you resist or trust his hand at work? What impurities—attitudes, habits, or fears—need to be removed from your heart to make room for Christ’s presence? Lastly, how can you actively prepare your heart this Advent through spiritual practices like prayer, Scripture reading, service, or quiet reflection?

May this Advent season be a time of surrender and transformation. As we await the coming of Jesus, may we trust in God’s refining love, believing that he is shaping us into his image, making our lives reflections of his grace and truth. Lord, refine our hearts. Purify us so that we may shine with your light, prepared for your coming.

SPLENDOR

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”
— Isaiah 60:1

During Advent, the word “splendor” calls us to reflect on the brilliance of God’s presence breaking into the world through Jesus Christ. Splendor conveys majesty, beauty, and radiance — qualities that describe God’s divine nature revealed in the coming of Christ.

Splendor of God’s Creation
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
— Psalm 19:1

Creation itself reflects God’s splendor. As we journey through Advent, nature’s beauty reminds us of the Creator’s magnificence. Even in winter’s stillness, there’s a quiet splendor that mirrors God’s enduring promise of new life.

Splendor of Christ’s Coming
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness—on them light has shined.”
— Isaiah 9:2

The birth of Jesus is the ultimate display of God’s splendor. Jesus’s birth illuminates a dark world with hope, peace, joy, and love. Advent invites us to open our hearts to that light and reflect it in our lives through our words and actions.

Splendor of Eternal Glory
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:6

Advent also points us toward Christ’s second coming in glory. We wait with expectant hope, trusting in the splendor of God’s ultimate plan of redemption and eternal life.

Reflection Questions:

  • How have you seen God’s splendor in your life recently?
  • In what ways can you reflect Christ’s light to others during this Advent season?