I recently watched a clip of a stand-up comedian talking about how his dad is a pastor, and he joked about how difficult it must be to give a different book report on the same book every week.
Well, I work in a high school library, and we don’t do “book reports” but rather “book talks”, where my colleague and I (and sometimes special guests who jump in last-minute) take a handful of books and, in 30 seconds to a minute on average, we share enough about the story to hopefully hook the kids. We win some… and we lose some.
Last week, no one checked out the books I recommended, so I repeated them with every class that came in. By the end of those talks, I was struggling to maintain my own excitement, even though I really did love the stories I was sharing.
There’s something different about the Bible though, and I’m thankful for it. The Bible isn’t just a book; it’s alive. Because it’s alive, we can learn new lessons and connections between scriptures every time we read it. Check out this image:
These are connections between scripture references. They are vast. And because you are constantly changing as a person due to your life journey, scripture will make new connections with you every time you read it.
The same should be true of Advent, which begins in a couple weeks. I recently spoke at a local Cru gathering (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ), and when I began preparing my message, I asked my husband, “What do you think college kids need to hear this time of the year? What should I speak to them about?”
He said, “Well, we’ll be approaching the season of Advent, and they probably need a reminder to slow down and remember why it’s important that we return to these traditions every year.”
Advent does follow tradition and is predictable, but like rereading familiar scripture, we can still learn something new about it every year because we are growing and changing all the time.
As I began preparing, I was surprised when the Spirit gave me John 10:10. At first glance, I didn’t think it was an Advent verse, but as I spent more time with it, I saw a new connection: “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” (AMP)
Over the next few weeks, I will share how God used this verse to teach me a new way to approach Advent, pointing me to Pausing, Preparing, remembering His Promises, and Persevering.
Welcome to a new season of Advent. I hope you will come along on this journey to see something new in the familiar.
Blessings,
~Lynne
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