Fear Not: An Advent series from Common Grace
2018: This Advent series called us beyond fear to embrace Christ's good news of hope, joy, healing and peace.
Our prayer is that the Common Grace Advent devotional series will invite Australian Christians to be present to Jesus, to each other, and to the world around us during the Advent season, so that our faith is nurtured, our love is stimulated and our hope is energised.
It is in this moment of remembering Christ's birth we see the depth of God’s great love for all Creation and the good breaking in - a new covenant beginning, a new foundation laid and the renewal of right relationship between God and all creation.
The radically generous gift of God’s only son Jesus is good news. It is good news to the poor, the imprisoned and the oppressed, to the marginalised and those facing injustice. It is good news to all creation.
Jesus, who spoke out against injustices, welcomed the stranger, protected the widow and healed the sick. He pointed to the hope and ‘good’ God intends for the world in the reconciliation of all things (Col 1:20), for the flourishing and wholeness of all creation. And gave himself to see the good begin to break into the world today.
As followers of Jesus we are called to be part of God’s new creation now. To be God’s hands and feet as we seek justice and love mercy (Mic 6:8). Together praying 'your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven' to see, to taste, and to hunger for the good to break through into this world.
Empowered by the Spirit to be salt and light (Mt 5:13-14) we seek to live out the good today. Our love in action reveals the hope and joy in the gift of Jesus' birth and the deep, radical, gracious love of God that transforms hearts and communities, turning our world upside down.
