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Preparing Our Hearts: Fourth Week of Advent 2024

I enjoy the Christmas season. I enjoy celebrating Advent.

The first week of Advent can be found here.
The second week of Advent can be found here.
The third week of Advent can be found here.

The fourth week of Advent is traditionally seen as being a time for looking at love. This year, I am using some of the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.

Let’s get into (a slightly longer devotional for)

Week Four of Advent

Bethlehem Ephrathah,
you are small among the clans of Judah;
one will come from you
to be ruler over Israel for me.
His origin is from antiquity,
from ancient times.
Therefore, Israel will be abandoned until the time
when she who is in labor has given birth;
then the rest of the ruler’s brothers will return
to the people of Israel.
He will stand and shepherd them
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majestic name of the Lord his God.
They will live securely,
for then his greatness will extend
to the ends of the earth.
He will be their peace.

Micah 5:2-5a, CSB

God revealed that The Messiah would be born in the town of Bethlehem after a period of silence from God. But this Messiah would be the King of Israel and His fame and rule would go around the world, bringing peace and hope. We can see the love of God in this King being a loving shepherd, and there is evidence of this being God Himself based on His being born yet also “from antiquity.”

Listen, Shepherd of Israel,
who leads Joseph like a flock;
you who sit enthroned between the cherubim,
shine on Ephraim,
Benjamin, and Manasseh.
Rally your power and come to save us.
Restore us, God;
make your face shine on us,
so that we may be saved.
Lord God of Armies,
how long will you be angry
with your people’s prayers?
You fed them the bread of tears
and gave them a full measure[a]
of tears to drink.
You put us at odds with our neighbors;
our enemies mock us.
Restore us, God of Armies;
make your face shine on us, so that we may be saved.

Psalm 80:1-7, CSB

The writer of Psalm 80 shows us that this King is God, the God of angel armies who sits above the cherubim. He will restore His people through forgiveness and salvation as their loving shepherd.

Therefore, as he was coming into the world, he said:
You did not desire sacrifice and offering,
but you prepared a body for me.
You did not delight
in whole burnt offerings and sin offerings.
Then I said, “See—
it is written about me
in the scroll—
I have come to do your will, God.”
After he says above, You did not desire or delight in sacrifices and offerings, whole burnt offerings and sin offerings (which are offered according to the law), he then says, See, I have come to do your will.[b] He takes away the first to establish the second. By this will, we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all time.

Hebrews 10:5-10, CSB

The writer of Hebrews then quotes Psalm 40 to show that this Shepherd King is also a Priest who does God’s will to make a new covenant of salvation from sin. God Himself is our Shepherd King and High Priest who became a human to save us from our sin.

“Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill what he has spoken to her!”

Luke 1:45, CSB

Mary believed that God had chosen her to bring this Priestly Shepherd King into the world.

Now, we are called to believe that God came to us through her, that Jesus came to save us from our sin, and that He loves us enough to have taken our shame upon Himself.

“If you love me, you will keep my commands.”

John 14:15, CSB

We are now called to love the world in the same way. If we love our God, we will lay down our very lives to proclaim His love to a lost and hurting world, giving them the hope of eternity in the joy and peace of Christ.

Prayer

Lord, we thank You for the love that saves us. By the power of the Holy Spirit, please guide us in Your love to share the hope of Christ, to live in the peace of Christ, and to discover the joy we have in Christ. Thank You for loving us. Thank You for coming for us. Thank You for promising to come for us again. Thank You, Jesus, our Immanuel.

2024
12/22
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Preparing Our Hearts: Third Week of Advent 2024

I enjoy the Christmas season. I enjoy celebrating Advent.

The first week of Advent can be found here. The second week of Advent can be found here.

The third week of Advent is traditionally seen as being a time for looking at joy. This year, I am using some of the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.

Let’s get into

Week Three of Advent

Sing for joy, Daughter Zion;
shout loudly, Israel!
Be glad and celebrate with all your heart,
Daughter Jerusalem!
The Lord has removed your punishment;
he has turned back your enemy.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is among you;
you need no longer fear harm.
On that day it will be said to Jerusalem:
“Do not fear;
Zion, do not let your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is among you,
a warrior who saves.
He will rejoice over you with gladness.
He will be quiet in his love.
He will delight in you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:14-17, CSB

We saw previously that God is our hope and peace, that Christ is our faithful Priestly King prophesied centuries earlier and proclaimed at His birth and before His earthly ministry began.

This week we see the joy that Christ brings. Jesus came to His people, to Jerusalem at the proper time to take away our sin and shame. Our heavenly King came to dwell amongst us, to save us, and to give us full hope of eternity where He will rejoice with us, not condemning us but delighting in us. Let us join in the rejoicing!

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4-7, CSB

As we await Christ’s second coming, we cast all our anxieties on Him through prayer and thanksgiving, rejoicing in the Lord who saves, giving us hope and peace and eternal joy. Let us worship the King who has come! Let us love our God who dwelt among us and dwells within us by His Holy Spirit to the glory of the Father!

Prayer

Lord, prepare our hearts for joy by the power of the Holy Spirit that others may see the joy and peace You grant us. Help us to see Your goodness in all things and to proclaim the joy of the cross to a lost and hurting world until Your return!

2024
12/15
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Preparing Our Hearts: Second Week of Advent 2024

I enjoy the Christmas season. I enjoy celebrating Advent.

The first week of Advent can be found here.

The second week of Advent is traditionally seen as being a time for looking at peace. This year, I am using some of the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.

Let’s get into

Week Two of Advent

Blessed is the Lord, the God of Israel,
because he has visited
and provided redemption for his people.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David,
just as he spoke by the mouth
of his holy prophets in ancient times;
salvation from our enemies
and from the hand of those who hate us.
He has dealt mercifully with our ancestors
and remembered his holy covenant—
the oath that he swore to our father Abraham,
to grant that we,
having been rescued
from the hand of our enemies,
would serve him without fear
in holiness and righteousness
in his presence all our days.
And you, child, will be called
a prophet of the Most High,
for you will go before the Lord
to prepare his ways,
to give his people knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins.
Because of our God’s merciful compassion,
the dawn from on high will visit us
to shine on those who live in darkness
and the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Luke 1:68-79, CSB

Last time we saw how God is our hope, that we can put our faith in Christ our Priestly King.

This week, we look at the peace that Christ offers, but first we look at the faithfulness of God. He promised this peace would come starting with Abraham and through to David. It took a thousand years from David to get to the final prophet of the Old Covenant which came through Moses. John the Baptist, son of Zechariah and Elizabeth, was the prophet who ushered in the ministry of the Son of David, the Priestly King who would bring peace.

However, look at what the prophet Malachi said:

“See, I am going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way before me. Then the Lord you seek will suddenly come to his temple, the Messenger of the covenant you delight in—see, he is coming,” says the Lord of Armies. But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will be able to stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s bleach. He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. And the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will please the Lord as in days of old and years gone by.

Malachi 3:1-4, CSB

The coming of this Prince of Peace would be a time of refinement and cleansing. While it is a time of hope, peace comes when His people have been purified. This again looks to the future, when our Priestly King Jesus comes for the second time. Now, we are being made clean by His blood, but at His second coming will be the time that the rest of Creation is purified and renewed.

True peace is knowing the Christ. He has called His Church to spread the message of peace, and as 2 Corinthians 5 tells us, we are His ambassadors until He returns. May we warn the world of the coming judgment that they may have peace with God both now and forever.

Prayer:

Lord, prepare our hearts with the peace of the Holy Spirit, and guide us to those who will believe in the peace you offer. Make us your weapons of peace against the violence of sin and oppression, redeeming the world through us until Your return.

2024
12/08
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Preparing Our Hearts: First Week of Advent 2024

I enjoy the Christmas season. I enjoy celebrating Advent.

The first week of Advent is traditionally seen as being a time for looking at hope and faith, having an expectation of the coming Savior. This year, I am using some of the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.

Let’s get into

Week One of Advent

“Look, the days are coming”—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
“when I will fulfill the good promise
that I have spoken
concerning the house of Israel
and the house of Judah.
In those days and at that time
I will cause a Righteous Branch
to sprout up for David,
and he will administer justice
and righteousness in the land.
In those days Judah will be saved,
and Jerusalem will dwell securely,
and this is what she will be named:
The Lord Is Our Righteousness.

Jeremiah 33:14-16, CSB

The world was full of sin, separation, and violence. Israel and Judah were God’s chosen people to spread His glory, but they had essentially failed at being faithful. Israel was already taken into exile, and Jeremiah was living during the time of Judah going into exile.

Jeremiah reminded us that God had established His covenant with King David, that an eternal Kingdom was coming with a descendant of David ruling forever. When this King comes, salvation and peace shall come. The next two verses even include that there will also be an eternal Priest.

This Priestly King will be called “The Lord is our righteousness.” As 1 Corinthians 1:30 reminds us, Christ is our righteousness and redemption, the Lord who sanctifies us.

We now know who this Priestly King is, and we must submit ourselves to His rule. And our hope is for eternity, knowing that Christ will come again. As said in Luke 21:25-36, this world will pass away, but He and His word will last forever, so we must prepare ourselves for His next coming.

The Hope of mankind has come and is coming, so let us repent of our sins, changing the way we think and act, worshiping the Son of God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity of the Godhead, that we may be ready when He returns. We have hope only if we are found in Christ.

Believe in the coming Son.

Prayer:

Lord, we have sinned against You and You alone. You are our only hope. Grant us the grace to repent, the strength to follow You, and the will to love others through the gospel and serving each other until You return. Show us the hope we have in Your life, death, and resurrection, and by the power of the Holy Spirit guide us in all truth until You return.

2024
12/01
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Advent 2022 – Day 29: Revelation 1:8, 22:12-13

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
“Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”

Revelation 1:8, 22:12-13 ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus is the Eternal Son of God who was with the Father “before” Creation, through whom all things were created.

We rebelled against our Creator, thinking we could be like Him or had no need for Him.

Yet, God came to us, paying for our sins while reserving wrath for those who refuse to believe.

And Jesus is coming again.

He came as a baby, becoming like us to grow up and save us, and we remember this.

But we also remember that this Man is also our God – truly man and truly God at once and completely.

He died on a cross for us, but He arose again from the dead proving that this Jesus is our God of wrath and grace.

And He is returning soon in His wrath and grace to finally and completely fully redeem this world to Himself.

May we seek the Lord who has defeated sin and death, has saved us, and is coming back again in glory.

Hallelujah and Amen.

Come, Lord Jesus!

2022
12/25
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Advent 2022 – Day 28: John 3:35-36

The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

John 3:35-36, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came to live amongst us, and His true followers look to Him.

God the Father sent God the Son because of His love for Him and for us.

We are the inheritance of Christ from the Father, but only if we belive in the Son.

Though many still doubt and remain under God’s wrath.

Yet, God came to us, giving His life to bring life to those who believe because of His great love.

It is hard for us to comprehend how deep the Father’s love is, yet He gives all things to His Son whom He sent to die for us.

We are no longer under God’s wrath when we believe in the work of Christ on the cross, yet we have a greater hope knowing He arose from the grave.

All of Creation is placed in His hands, and we know He is coming again for us, as He promised before and at His ascension to the right hand of the Father.

May we seek the Lord who saves us and is coming again to take us as His own.

2022
12/24
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VerseD: Isaiah 40:31

but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31, ESV

We await the second advent of our Lord, and when He comes we shall meet Him on the clouds. This hope carries us ever forward, bringing as many along in faith as we are able by Hos power.

2022
12/24
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Advent 2022 – Day 27: John 3:30

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

John 3:30, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came to live amongst us, and His true followers look to Him.

True followers of Jesus rejoice to hear Him and to point others toward Him.

2000 years ago through today, there are those who say we should focus on building our own life, on making sure we are happy and influential.

Yet, God came to us, showing us He is the only one worthy of influence and fame, our true source of happiness and joy.

It is not that we hate ourselves or other people, it is that Jesus has saved His people and we want to show the world who He is.

The world may think we want to be their saviors, but we know He is the rightful King and Savior.

Our mission is not to grow our platform but to grow Christ’s Church.

Yes, like John we deny ourselves and point to Christ, and we deny ourselves because we want the world to know Christ.

It is not self-deprecation, it is glorifying our God who lives in us and is restoring all things, including us.

May we seek the Lord who saves us and to bring Him all glory.

2022
12/23
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Advent 2022 – Day 26: John 3:28-29

“You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’ The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.“

John 3:28-29, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came to live amongst us, and His true followers look to Him.

True followers of Jesus rejoice to hear Him and to point others toward Him.

People may scoff, and they may even claim we think of ourselves as high and mighty and christs ourselves.

Yet, God came to us, showing us He is the source of all goodness and power, saving His Bride – the Church – from her sin.

Jesus has saved His people, and we will want to show the world who He is.

The world may think we want to be their saviors, but we know He is the rightful King and Savior.

Our refutation is not done the same way as the world.

Yes, we deny ourselves and point to Christ, but we do it by pointing to the Scriptures that reveal His deity and works.

We remember and proclaim the prophecies of Jesus’ first coming, His death and resurrection, and that He is coming again for His Bride.

May we seek the Lord who saves us and is coming again to claim His Bride.

2022
12/22
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Advent 2022 – Day 25: John 3:16-18

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.“

John 3:16-18, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came to live amongst us, teaching the truths of God and proving them with miracles, signs, and wonders.

Whether we grow up surrounded by religious teachings or nothing spiritual, it can be difficult to comprehend salvation.

Jesus explained to Nicodemus, and thus to us, that it is pretty simple how to be saved, but we make it oh so difficult.

Yet, God came to us, showing us we saved only by believing in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

If we don’t choose to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, fully God and fully man, who is the God we have all sinned against, that He died for our forgiveness and restoration to Himself, and that He bodily rose back to life, we remain condemned to the wrath of God for our sin.

If we don’t believe all of that, we are in danger of not being saved.

Jesus is full of grace, and He is our only source of hope and forgiveness.

God came to us as a man to save us by taking our punishment on Himself, and we must believe this to be saved.

It is not difficult to understand, but we don’t want to admit our faults or that it can be so easy to be saved yet difficult to live by God’s standard.

May we seek the Lord who has saved us from wrath and given us the path to eternal life.

2022
12/21
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