This past Sunday, the Christian world entered the season of Advent. Like the Lenten season that precedes the celebration of Easter, Advent is a time of personal reflection, evaluation, and humble repentance that precedes the celebration of Christmas — and points us forward to the imminent return of Jesus Christ. Yes, King Jesus is coming again! Advent is a season of hope!
The Greatest Failure of All

These seasons of preparation help us to fathom the primary significance of the gifts of mercy and grace — gifts so extraordinary, so extravagant, so indescribably good — that we must prepare ourselves to receive them. The keyword in both seasons is need. We need God’s mercy; we need God’s grace. If we ever forget our need, then we’ll forget why God gave. And that, my dearest friends, would be the greatest failure of all.
Mercy and Grace

Lent prepares us to receive mercy — and the main purpose of Lent is to remind us that we are irreparably broken. It makes us keenly aware of why the passion (suffering, death, and resurrection) of Jesus Christ, God’s infinite act of mercy, was necessary. Paul summarized the heart of Lent when he wrote, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23. My dear friends, we need God’s mercy.

Advent prepares us to receive grace — and the main purpose of Advent is to remind us that God is infinitely good. It makes us keenly aware of why the birth of Jesus Christ, God’s infinite act of grace, was necessary. John summarized the heart of Advent when he wrote, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” My dear friends, we need God’s grace.
Mindless and Meaningless

Every religious tradition is initially inspired by people who had a powerful and personal experience with God. The miraculous experience is then memorialized again and again. In time, it becomes a tradition. As generations pass, the tradition ends up in the hands of people who have no first-hand experience with the miracle. They only know of the tradition and the legendary stories of what happened back in the day. This is the problem with religious traditions. What’s left is mindless and meaningless repetition.

When people have no connection to the miracle, the purpose of the tradition fades away, or it takes on new values — and those values tend to be far different than the values intended by the tradition. Consider the commercialization of Christmas, and you can quickly identify what happens when traditions are handed down to people who have no first-hand connection to the miracle. Mercy and grace are needles lost in a haystack of tinsel and wrapping paper. That’s not a judgment; it’s simply the diagnosis of a problem.

Lent and Advent are intended to create opportunities for every person to experience first-hand God’s miraculous mercy and grace. This is vitally important for one simple reason:
God Has no Grandchildren

The Kingdom of God is populated by one generation — the sons and daughters of God. John declared this truth plainly, “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12-13. At no point do the Scriptures suggest the possibility of anyone being God’s grandchild.

The manger-cradle that holds the baby Jesus stands as a powerful reminder that God only has children. My friends, the life-transforming power of grace and mercy can never be experienced as a hand-me-down. These incredible blessings are yours — provided by your heavenly Father — new and fresh every day.

The themes of Advent — hope, peace, joy, and love — are first-hand blessings. So, let me ask you: are you experiencing them first-hand? Are they real for you? Are they alive in your heart? Do you sense that you are living purposefully as a vital part of God’s grand story?

Do you have hope? Real hope? A hope that sustains you in the midst of crisis and difficulty because you know something good and better is coming?

Do you have peace? Is your heart settled as you consider your place and purpose in the cosmos? Is your heart free of guilt, regret, bitterness, and vengeance?

Do you have joy? Is there a deep well within you that replenishes your spirit even amid difficulty and sorrow? Is the supply of joy in you deep enough that you can respond generously to the needs of others rather than obsessing over your own needs and wants?

Do you have love? Are you living freely in the love of God — confident and content and courageous and selfless? Are you able to receive love freely? Are you able to give love freely?

Advent asks these questions to help us evaluate our relationship with God. Have you experienced first-hand the miracles of mercy and grace? If you have, then hope, peace, joy, and love are growing in you! If you haven’t, then you are keenly aware that life is not as it should be. My friend, you need mercy and grace — and you know it better than anybody.

I have good news for you. In God’s house, there is a cradle with your name on it. He is your heavenly Father, and He has done everything necessary for you to be His child. He created you for it — and every cell in your being longs for it. Maybe you just didn’t know. Maybe you’re disappointed in Christians. Maybe you’re disenchanted by the Church. Maybe friend, whatever is holding you back keeps you from God’s mercy and grace — from genuine hope, peace, joy, and love.

Today can be your miracle. If you’re wary of hand-me-down religion and meaningless traditions, then receive God’s gifts of mercy and grace. When you do, you will be His child, and Christmas and Easter will finally make sense.

Every time you see a manger with the baby Jesus this year, let it remind you that God has a cradle with your name on it too!