Dear Friends,

The season of Advent, the four-week period prior to Christmas, causes Christians to reflect over the coming of Jesus to the world. In readings and prayers, we are reminded not only of the Incarnation, but of Jesus coming again in the future. I wonder what it means for you to prepare your heart to receive Jesus afresh in faith?

As a church family, we have studied, discussed and practiced the ideas of “Sabbath-keeping.” Whether you can better reflect over Jesus’ Incarnation or over his Second Coming, no reflection happens without making time to think and to pray about these things and how your Advent and Christmas will be influenced. Maybe you will buy and shop less and give more? Maybe you will have more time with dear friends and family? Whatever your choices, I encourage you to act in ways that cause you to “remember your first love.” (Rev. 2: 4)

I think about the church in Ephesus to which the Lord said, “You have forsaken your first love.” Ouch. That must have been hard to hear. How like that city is our area: international, cosmopolitan, an economic force, pluralistic, and so on. It’s easy to get caught up in one’s own life and one’s own culture. The Ephesus church lost sight of the Jesus’ at the center of their lives. But let us resolve in this season today to keep the Love and Lordship of Jesus at the center of our focus this season. Let us joyfully follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Let us joyfully set aside time to reflect over the meaning of God’s grace and love found in Christ Jesus. Let us allow God to shape our hearts all the more this year!