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VIRUS ALERT:ADVENT VIRUS

That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! The Savior--yes, the Messiah, the Lord--has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! (Luke 2:8-11)

That cold night might have been the origin point for an incredibly powerful epidemic called THE ADVENT VIRUS. Here is the warning that I received:

Be on the alert for symptoms of inner HOPE, PEACE, JOY AND LOVE. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to this virus and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in sweeping proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.

Some signs and symptoms of THE ADVENT VIRUS:

  • A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
  • An unmistakable ability to enjoy the moment.
  • A loss of interest in judging other people.
  • A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
  • A loss of interest in conflict.
  • A loss of the ability to worry.
  • Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation and thankfulness.
  • Contented feelings of connectedness with others and God.
  • Frequent attacks of smiling.
  • An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
  • An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

There is one more symptom of which I have personally become aware. Basically, it is the overwhelming desire to let everyone you know about the greatest gift that this fallen world has been given: Jesus Christ. It comes in the form of inviting people to church, writing cards or letters, or making that phone call you've been putting off for way too long now. It shows up in all your circumstances, leading people to believe that there is something very Christ-like about you. It starts each morning when you wake up, praising God and asking Him to fill you with His Spirit. It keeps going all day as you look for even the smallest opportunities to be Jesus to those around you. It carries you through the night as you commit your way to God- trusting Him with all your circumstances.

Be warned, though, this virus is highly contagious. Once you and the people in your sphere of influence get exposed to the unconditional love of God, full recovery is seldom possible. So be sure and avoid catching this virus by taking steps to protect yourself. I would suggest doing things like focusing on the materialistic side of the holidays, allowing stress to take over, and getting so busy that you don't have any time to stop and reflect on the birth of the Savior. After all, if this virus got out of hand, we could end up with something terrible like 'peace on earth'- right?

Questions:

  1. How has this Christmas season impacted you negatively and positively so far?
  2. Would other people in your life know that you have the Advent Virus? Why or why not?
  3. Is there a person in your life that could really use exposure to this virus?