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When the time was right by Stephen Rand |
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What was your first impression?
I have never followed a devotional book through Advent before so I didn’t
really know what to expect, though I did follow a similar book through Lent
this year. The back cover states that the book goes through some of the unlikely
people God uses in his plan, the failures, the reluctant, the ordinary, the
humble, the faithful, the persevering, and it gave me hope the book might be
for someone just like me.
 What's it about?
Stephen Rand divides Advent into six sections: the family tree; the kingly
line; a cast of thousands; family and friends; a sense of purpose ans the time
is coming. This takes us all the way from 1st December to 6th
January. The first four weeks look at a different person involved in the story
of Jesus’ birth each day, beginning with Adam, it’s a long story! He looks at
what God called them to do and how their lives contributed to the bigger
picture. Each day begins with a Bible passage followed by Stephen Rand’s
observation, explanation and reflection on the passage and the character. Each
day ends with a prayer.
What did you like about it?
I liked the way it was broken down into sections and also the way each day’s
entry managed to be long enough to go into some depth but yet short enough for
it to be relatively easy to catch up if you missed a day for some reason. It
looked at the Christmas story from lots of different viewpoints and made a very
thorough job of it.
What didn't you like?
Devotional books such as this one are really good and helpful for multitudes of
people but for others they can be an added time pressure and therefore don’t
always represent a positive addition to their days.
What will you still remember a year from now?
I will remember that the Christmas story doesn’t just begin with Mary on a
donkey and end with farm animals gazing lovingly at a baby in a manger ~ it
encompasses far more than that. A baby in a manger is the high point of a story
which had been building for centuries.
Who would you recommend this book to?
I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to centre themselves on the
Biblical nativity story in amongst the busyness and pressure of how Christmas
is today. Also to homegroup and other church groups who might choose to read
through the book together. Also to families who might want something to read
and learn from as they light their advent candle or open their calendars. Also
to anyone who feels they personally have ‘lost’ Jesus in their busy run up to
Christmas day.
Can you give us a couple of good quotes from the book?
Jesus came to fulfil the law, demonstrating through three years of ministry and
through his death and resurrection just what God’s way of living looks like,
full of life and full of love. The Christmas story is no more a romantic novel
than is the story of Ruth. Both, at heart, are about love that leads to doing
the right thing. Ruth’s baby, Naomi’s grandchild signified that. The baby in
the manger signifies it as well.
Take a look at that nativity scene arranged in your hearth
or on the mantelpiece. The magi are there because the king they sought and
found was, and is, the king of all creation, of all people’s in every place.
Their presence is a sign that you have every right to be there as well,
kneeling in worship before the baby who changed the world.
Review by Hilary
Find this book in our CMs shop.
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