CCRN OAU Alumni Advent Reflections – Day 5 (4th December 2025)

1st Rdn: Isaiah 26:1-6
Psalm 118:1,8-9,19-21,25-27
Gos: Matthew 7:21,24-27

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. Matt 7:21

There is a portion of the Legion handbook that describes a legionary ‘as a soldier, always on duty’. This creates a sense of responsibility in the legionary such that they are aware that their activeness and functions are not limited to the day and venue of meeting alone. The Christian life should also mirror this sense of responsibility. Christianity should not be in name alone, but in action and deed every time.

In today’s gospel passage, our Lord Jesus emphasized that it is not enough to just carry the Christian identification. Beyond that, we must do the will of the father. In fact, being a Christian alone does not guarantee a place in heaven, what guarantees heavenly inheritance is being a Christian actively doing the will of the Father per time. And what is the will of the father? Ultimately, God wills for the salvation of all men (1Tim 2:4). This means that, in addition to being Christians, we must work in partnership with the Holy Spirit to ensure that the will of God is established wherever we find ourselves.

While the ultimate will of God is the salvation of all men, it can be communicated in different forms to different people in different places. It is therefore incumbent on us as children of God to find out what is His will per time and communicate it to those who need it. For some, it may be an act of kindness that is needed, others may just need someone to listen to them, some others may need help, while some people need to experience joy.

The season of advent presents an excellent opportunity to communicate Jesus to the world around us especially in these chaotic times. There is an expectation on us to be light and salt of earth, to be conduit of God’s love. Now is not the time to go to sleep, our world needs an active Christian, it is the time to show that Jesus is still alive and working in and through us.

By Bro Damian Ike