Dear Redeeming Grace,

Do you remember that sage advice you always heard when you were first learning to cross the street? Look. Both. Ways.

This week we find ourselves in the middle of the advent season. Advent is a unique time of year as it allows us the opportunity to look both ways, back and forward.

We look back as we remember that the eternal Son of God, the Word, became flesh to dwell among us. He was born as a human child so that he would one day be the Lamb of God to take away our sin.

Last week we thought about how in the present, we seek the risen Christ with our lives. One of the ways we do that is to remember his words. And we find ultimate hope for our future when we remember his promises that look ahead.

Our hope is built on a promise that is yet to be fulfilled. That promise is that Jesus who came once as an infant, will come again as King to complete the work of making all things new.

So here in the middle of advent, let's keep looking both directions. May the historic reality of Christ's first coming increase our longing as we hope in the promise of his second coming.