The Advent
A short reminder for you that Advent and the celebration of Christmas is about remembering the time our Savior was born. God came to the world he created—the one that fell in sin—and he came by way of being born from a virgin as a human baby. The baby grew in wisdom and stature to be the man Jesus who eventually went to the Cross, died, and was resurrected to life to offer a relationship with God for those who believe this Gospel.
When Jesus was born the heavens opened in celebration.
Luke 2:12–14 (CSB)
12This will be the sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped tightly in cloth and lying in a manger.” 13Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: 14Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people he favors!
While Christmas is a time for reflecting upon the greatness of the Triune God, it can be a time of challenge for some of us in recovery. There may be memories, events, relationships, and continued dysfunction that causes unrest as the holiday time approaches. The thought of time away from your “normal” work or school schedule may make you restless. If this is so, keep “R.C.B.” in mind—Remember, Community, Bible.
(1) Remember: Advent is also a tradition for remembering the Return of Christ. In fact, the Latin term adventus Christi, the one our English term (Advent) comes from, is a direct reference to the second visible coming of Christ at the consummation of the age. Advent is a style of life—a life lived in a way that reflects faith in his return—and one to take part in all year long. The Bible teaches that Christ will return to deliver us from this age.
Revelation 1:8 (CSB)
8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “the one who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
(2) Community: Maintain contact with your recovery community. Community is your greatest resource when you are confronting lifestyle change and pursuing sobriety. It is important to make special plans during Christmas to maintain involvement with your community. Take the time to plan through holiday closures and travel to schedule ahead and find alternate ways to maintain community accountability.
(3) Bible: Plan more time to read your Bible and other recovery material. Reading your Bible is the best tool in your recovery tool kit and it is easy to schedule additional time for just you and God! If your community time is going to be unsettled, find an additional reading plan, and schedule additional time to read, pray, and reflect.