ADVENTURE

With Christmas just around the corner, it’s easy to be overwhelmed with to-do lists and commitments that can steal our peace if we aren’t careful. The best way to counter the hustle and bustle of the season is to slow down and reflect during the weeks leading up to Christmas day. Advent is a time to remember and celebrate the coming of Christ into the world and rejoice as we look forward to His soon return.

While writing this devotional, I couldn’t help but notice that Advent is only a few letters short of adventure. One definition of adventure is “an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity.”

The arrival of Almighty God as a newborn baby was no doubt unusual, exciting, and hazardous! (in Matthew 2, we find King Herod trying to have Jesus killed right after He was born). From the start, following close to Jesus requires a fearless faith that places obedience over comfort and safety.

For example, when Jesus approved Peter’s request to get out of the boat in the middle of a dangerous storm—that didn’t seem safe. It took faith for Peter to choose to go out of his comfort zone, yet had he not, he would have missed the adventure of walking on water.

Like Peter, we can be brave by keeping our eyes on the Lord and not the storm. Jesus told us that a trouble-free life in this world doesn’t exist. However, because of His victory over death, God’s children can and must be fearless. Why? Because we have the power of His presence and the promise of eternal security.

During this season of reflection and hope, let us fix our eyes on our Savior and refuse to stay safely silent. Now more than ever, the world needs to hear of the hope we have within us. If we elevate fear over faith, we will miss the thrill and adventure of helping build God’s kingdom alongside Him.

The arrival of Jesus for the first time was exciting and is the reason for the season. He will return unexpectedly and suddenly; when He does, an eternal adventure awaits all who belong to the Lord.

Faith truly is a Fantastic Adventure In Trusting Him.

Pray: Thank you Father for the indescribable gift we have been given in Jesus. May we fearlessly share the Gospel to a world that desperately needs You.

Reflect: Christmas is a beautiful reminder that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. This truth permits us to be bold and courageous because if God is with us, who can be against us? He alone is worthy to be feared, honored, and adored.