Let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in your hearts and make you wise. Use his words to teach and counsel each other. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

Colossians 3:16

Has there been a song on your mind so far today? Was it there as a reminder or encouragement to be faithful - or was it a distraction from following God’s voice? Poetry - well placed words that call to our imagination - combined with musical accompaniment, has been a feature of the worship of God throughout scripture. It continues to help us focus on Jesus today. Psalms, among many other passages in the Bible, speak to the tenacity and power of song to inspire us and focus our attention.

For the next couple weeks, we will take a look at a number of songs and relevant scripture, all reflecting themes related to the celebration of Advent. Some of these songs you may be familiar with, some not. They span multiple generations of Christians - but all speak to the longing, the desire, the expectation and heart of Advent. Of course, many believers today are not familiar with the practice of Advent. Though a long-standing historical celebration within Christianity, many today have lost sight of its purpose - replacing a celebration of “coming”  - past, present and future - with a celebration of the birth of Jesus alone.

Advent is more than just a celebration of the birth. It is a celebration and consideration of Jesus’ birth, his presence in our lives today, and his final return as Lord over everything. These elements often intertwine even in Scripture, and the same is true in Christian thought. Usually, four key elements get the focus - hope, peace, love, and joy. There are slight deviations from this, but this provides the core.

Hope and expectation highlight the way that our spiritual predecessors waited patiently for God to reveal himself. It also helps encourage us as we daily seek God’s hand and voice. And it always helps us to keep our eyes focused on the promised coming day - the day when we will see Jesus face to face in all his glory.

Peace illustrates for us the fact that God has made a bridge between us. Elements of forgiveness, mercy and grace all play pivotal roles in our understanding of God’s peace. But more than this, God’s peace causes us to live in a completely different way with our neighbors - Christian or otherwise. For God has made a way of peace that is available to all who will come in humility recognizing their need of a savior.

Love takes peace and places it on a firm foundation. Peace is not just a whim. It is not just an arbitrary decision by God. It is the direct result of his love for us -  a love that was lived out in absolute sacrifice. Love has been demonstrated by Jesus in a way that changes the way we can now love and live.

Finally - joy. What can be offered but praise for our God once we have recognized his face? Having seen his love, justice, faithfulness, patience and care, we cry out, “Holy!” And rightly so. The perspective on life is new - even in the midst of darkness, in the midst of death, sickness, fatigue, or economic distress - we now realize that this place is temporary. We see a grander picture, a higher calling. We find a God who wants us to be family. A God who wants to be close.

So take a moment to read and consider what God is trying to share with you this season. Then remind each other of your wonderful God and Savior in any way that you can! Shout (or sing) about what he has done, is doing and will do. What a great God we serve!