“God wants His world back.” Greg Finke’s statement included in his book, “Joining Jesus: Show Me How” landed on me like a ton of bricks. Here’s the rest of the paragraph: “God wants all things made new, the ends of the earth saved, all things reconciled to himself. This is the mission of God. This is the point. Everything else is a means to that mission. Everything. The cross and empty tomb of Jesus are means to that mission. The Word and sacraments are means to that mission. Discipling is a means to that mission. Our churches and worship services and programming are means to that mission. And so are we. The mission of God is what we are made for and saved for.” (p.45)
The Advent Season started on Sunday, November 27—Happy New Year, Church! Happy? Well, it certainly should be when we think that God so loved the world that he sent his only son…because he wants his world back. In Jesus, it’s happening—even now. Whether you celebrate the Advent Season of the Church with a focus on Bethlehem, or take a future “He’s coming back” approach to Advent this year, join this mission based on what God has done, what he is doing now, and what he will do in the future. God wants his world back and he’s done everything necessary to make that happen.
By the way, and it probably goes without saying, but I better play it safe and say it anyway; just in case: He wants you back, too.
I’ll have a bit more on Advent next time.
Thanks for reading along.
Bruce Stumbo - North American Mission - Ministry Lead