Advent Devotional - December 24

December 24 Abide

“O come to us, abide with us”

Pray

On this most holy night, I take my place. Kneeling beside the shepherds, paying homage with the wise men of the ages, guided by a star, I lift my eyes in humble adoration to see the coming of my Savior – Christ the Lord. Amen.

Read – John 15:4

"Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.”(NKJV)

Reflect

“Abide” is an old English word used in the King James Bible to translate at least a dozen different words in Hebrew and Greek. Sometimes it means “to endure” or “to bear,” as in “Who can abide His coming?” At other times “abide” means “await,” as in “Abide here!” In the New Testament it is often a noun meaning a dwelling place. This reflects the most common meaning in Hebrew where “to abide” is “to dwell” or, in an older sense, “to encamp”.

When we sing “O come to us, abide with us,” our words become a prayer. We are asking that God should come and live in us. Just as the Christ Child came to a stable in Bethlehem, so we ask that He might make His dwelling place in us. This is no idle sentiment. By His Holy Spirit, God takes up residence in every believing heart. Paradoxically, as we abide in Him, so His Spirit abides in us. We are enriched and empowered by the presence of our God.

At Christmas, we remember the miracle of the incarnation – how God came into our midst, took on human flesh and bore the weight of human sin. But we also need to remember another miracle – how the holy God, whose true home is in heaven, deigns to dwell in us. Just as the stable was a poor place to welcome the King, so our poor hearts are inadequate for Him. Nevertheless, Christ came. He keeps on coming to those who, in repentance and faith, fling wide open the doors of their hearts, and bid Him “Come!”