As a kid, December brought with it a lot of waiting—waiting to decorate, waiting for school to be out, waiting for my sisters’ Christmas concert to be over. And of course, I was waiting for Christmas morning and unwrapping presents.

Such waiting has made it easier to embrace a more concerted observance of Advent, for Advent is a time that teaches us to wait. In this season, we look back and remember God’s people expectantly longing for the first coming of Christ, and we look forward, waiting in hope for his second.

Advent’s lessons in waiting seem increasingly important to me, for I grow more and more convinced that the life of faith is a life of waiting. We’re waiting on God. We’re waiting for him to fulfill his promises and to unite all things in Christ.

Often, the church is seen, at best, as a by-product of the missionary endeavor and, at worst, a hindrance to it. Yet, in John 17, Jesus’s prayer challenges us to consider the importance of community for our continuing in his mission.

Enthusiasm is easy, but it tends to leave us as easily as it comes. Endurance in life is the real challenge. Last endurance in the life of faith can only come through the encouragement of the gospel.

"The deepest motive for mission is simply the desire to be with Jesus where he is, on the frontier between the reign of God and the usurped dominion of the devil." - Lesslie Newbigin