Advent Devotional - December 21

December 21 Born in Us

“Be born in us today”

Pray

Come and dwell within me, Lord, by faith. May I know the peace and the presence of the Holy Spirit, sealing my heart as Yours. Amen.

Read – I John 5:1

“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well”.

Reflect

Any birth is a miracle. It doesn’t matter how many times we’ve witnessed it, the wonder of new life is still astonishing. Even the most hardened and cynical among us can’t help but crack a smile. Every birth seems to make the world anew. We see the familiar sights around us with renewed hope when we see them through the eyes of a child. Even the commonplace is touched with wonder: every falling leaf is a masterpiece, every raindrop is a precious jewel, and every gurgling brook is a symphony.

In the same way, when Christ is born in us, by faith, a miracle transforms our feet of clay with the dance-steps of heaven. The sins that bore down upon us, that seemed so insurmountable, are cut down to size. The prospects, that seemed so gray and lifeless, are lit up by hope. When we look in the mirror, we no longer see the care-worn lines of worry, we see a sinner saved by grace. “You must be born again,” said Jesus to old Nicodemus, who intentionally misunderstood. The fact is that our rebirth is dependent upon His birth. May the Christ who was born in Bethlehem be born in us, today.

Advent Devotional - December 20

December 20 Cast Out

“Cast out our sin”

Pray

Take from my soul, Lord, the strain and stress of sin; as I learn to cast all my cares upon Christ, may my life reflect the beauty of Your peace. Amen.

Read – John 12:31

“Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out”. (KJV)

Reflect

What would you like to “cast out” of your life? Most of us have a secret stash of sins that we think we have hidden from our Lord. If the truth be told, most of us long to be rid of it. Some evil or ugly thought may lie dormant for years, almost forgotten, but not quite. We fool ourselves into thinking that the battle has been won, and that final victory has been celebrated. Then, in an unguarded moment, evil slinks from its lair and catches us unprepared. In just a few moments the advances, that have taken years to achieve, can be wiped out in a bungled and embarrassing retreat.

Interestingly, whenever the Bible uses the phrase “cast out” it usually follows it with the words “the devil.” The Scriptures do not suffer from our sensitivities regarding the naming of evil. Where we have been taught to blame the environment or education, Scripture pulls no punches. It is evil that assails us; it is evil that needs to be cast out. Thankfully, we can take comfort in the knowledge that, if we have given ourselves to Christ, evil cannot have total sway over us. The ultimate victory is assured, since it is His. But for now, in the guerilla warfare of discipleship, we not only need to cling to what is good and noble and true, we also need to ask God to cast out from our lives whatever is not of Him.

Advent Devotional - December 19

December 19 Descend

“Descend to us, we pray”

Pray

Lord God, from the heights of heaven to the squalor of my selfish, sinful world You came; from glory inaccessible to a cross of shame. In love You descended to my world; may such love be the measure of my praise. Amen.

Read – Ephesians 4:10

“He who descended is the very One who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe”.

Reflect

Jesus Christ is so much more than a Teacher, who came to instruct us in how to live. He is so much more than an Example, a motif for sacrifice. Jesus is not an Illustration of a divine principle, a check mark in the magnum opus of the universe. Jesus Christ is the King who gave up His throne and descended into the abyss in order to rescue His lost and wandering children. He is the eternal Word made flesh, emptying Himself in order to win our salvation.

Every other religion in the world has adherents who strive to reach up to their god. By good deeds or acts of mercy, or by strict adherence to ceremonial or moral law, devotees hope that the scales will tip in their favor. If only they try hard enough, they believe, or pray long enough, their god will let them into his heaven. Only Christianity has a God who reaches down to us, who risks His holiness for our eternal happiness. Alleluia! What a Savior! Only love could compel Him to such lengths; and the only response He looks for is our love. When, in a manger, we see God “contracted to a span,” what can we do, but give Him our hearts?

Advent Devotional - December 18

December 18 Child

“O holy Child of Bethlehem”

Pray

Lord God, my times are in Your hands. I give You my yesterdays, that You may forgive me; I give You my todays, that You may lead me; and I give You all of my tomorrows, that they may be lived to Your glory. Amen.

Read – Isaiah 9:6

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace”.

Reflect

Every child is a sign of hope. Every time our lives are enriched by a baby we make an investment in the future. We say, “I know what the papers say, that our children will inherit a much more dangerous world, where resources will be fewer and peace more elusive than today. But I believe that God has a future and a hope for us. My child is heir to His promises; God will not let us down.” So we refuse to believe the naysayers and the doom-mongers who predict unprecedented catastrophe. We trust in the God who has been faithful throughout long generations. Our children, and our children’s children, are in His hands.

Such hope would be misplaced, were it not for the sign God gave in Bethlehem. When God broke into our world He overcame the darkness of despair with the light of hope. Despite the malevolent intentions of King Herod, the guilty indifference of Pontius Pilate, and the murderous violence of those who sent Him to the cross, Jesus proved that love wins, in the end. In Mary’s Child a light burned in the darkness, and the darkness could not put it out. Neither shall it, ever.

Throughout the centuries, evil has done its worst, but God’s Kingdom continues to grow. Every child of God is a sign that hope is not in vain, and that one day death itself will be swallowed up in victory. Until that day, hold fast to the hope that is ours in Jesus. Cling to the promise of the coming again of Christ, the King of kings.

Advent Devotional - December 17

December 17 Enters In

“Still, the dear Christ enters in”

Pray

Gentle God, You do not overwhelm me with Your mercy; You do not overcome my will with Yours. Although You have chosen me, You wait for my poor heart to choose You. I choose You now. Amen.

Read – Hebrews 6:19

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain”.

Reflect

There comes a time, in every life, when we become aware of the insistent knocking at the doorway of our heart. It is not an angry sound, as though someone is impatient at being made to wait. It is not alarming, like that of a police officer demanding entry. When Christ knocks at the door of your heart He is gentle, yet firm. When Love comes calling, you need to let Him in.

Holman Hunt painted a famous picture of Christ entitled “The Light of the World”. Bearing a lantern, Jesus stands knocking at an old door. It is firmly closed and obviously unused. Vines grow up the door. One other thing: there is no handle. If the door is to be opened it must be from the inside. Such is the door of your heart.

How many years has Jesus knocked upon that door? At times His knocking has been drowned out by the party you have been enjoying. You thought you had everything. What need did you have for a Savior? Then, at other times, perhaps when trials came, you had to cover your ears because you did not want to hear Him. You knew that you needed to open the door and to let Him in, but you were afraid of what you might lose. “Later,” you said, “when I am older. Not yet.”

Christmas is one of those times when God seems closer. When the old story is read once more, when the carols are sung, and when memories are shared, then Christ draws near. Faith seems real. That is the time to open the door, and to let Him in.