Day 11
The Holy Love of God Opening Prayer Dear Heavenly Father, as we enter your presence today through this devotional time, we open our hearts to receive the wisdom and truth found in your holy Word. May your Spirit guide our reflections and illuminate the path of understanding as we examine your sacred self-disclosure. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, we pray. Amen. Scripture Reading Isaiah 6:1-11 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” 4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. 5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” 8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” 9 He said, “Go and tell this people: “ ‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding; be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’ 10 Make the heart of this people calloused; make their ears dull and close their eyes. k Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.” 11 Then I said, “For how long, Lord?” And he answered: “Until the cities lie ruined and without inhabitant, until the houses are left deserted and the fields ruined and ravaged, 12 until the Lord has sent everyone far away and the land is utterly forsaken. 13 And though a tenth remains in the land, it will again be laid waste. But as the terebinth and oak leave stumps when they are cut down, so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.” The Great Tradition “The prophetic word gives the reason for the desolation by showing the cause of their fall, making the understanding of it clear. When they heard our Savior teaching among them but would not listen with the ear of the mind and did not understand who he was, seeing him with their eyes and not with the eyes of their spirit, “they hardened their heart, closed the eyes of their mind, and made their ears heavy.” As the prophecy says, their cities would become desolate such that no one would live in them because of this. In addition, their land would become desolate, and only a few would remain, being kept like fruitful seed who would proceed to all people and multiply on the earth.” (Eusebius of Caesarea) Prayer of Confession Heavenly Father, we come before you with humble hearts, acknowledging our sin and brokenness. Just as Isaiah recognized his unworthiness in the presence of your holiness, we too confess what we are able to grasp of how far short we have fallen of your glory. We seek your forgiveness and purification, trusting in the redemptive power of your love. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. Reflection God used the first seven verses of today’s Scripture to revolutionize my faith almost thirty years ago. I was teaching a study by R.C. Sproul called, The Holiness of God. It was a needed balance to my view of God which, in the tradition of many “mainliners” of my generation, understood God exclusively in terms of his attribute of love. When I say, “his attribute of love,” what I really mean is what we usually think God’s love ought to be like, in our humble opinions. For many of us who grew up in church, the unconditional love of God is almost synonymous with the unconditional niceness of God. God used Sproul’s book and study on the holiness of God to awaken me. I discovered God is much larger than I imagined. Sure, I had read A.W. Tozer’s Knowledge of the Holy, but goodness, I was still in my 20s and barely understood most of what I read there. Sproul’s book put the cookie jar on the bottom shelf so I could get to it. To think of God as “holy, holy, holy” was something I didn’t comprehend. If asked, I may have used the word “holy” to describe God, but I would have been guessing at words out of my ignorance. I came to understand that God’s holiness, like all of God’s attributes, is essential to who God is, and not some second tier, take it or leave it, attribute. His holiness signifies both his otherness and his moral purity. To stand before such a holy God, one cannot help but react the way Isaiah did. Who could look upon our holy God and not cry out that they are ruined, undone, disintegrated? Every sinful thought, word, deed, and desire that our lives have been built upon would overwhelm our hearts and minds were we to stand before such a God. The guilt would be more than we could possibly endure. Isaiah’s cry was recognition of his guilt and his repentance of it. Thus, in our Scripture, the angels took the searing tongs and applied them to the lips of Isaiah to symbolize his purification and atonement. His guilt was taken away and he was forgiven. Is there better news than that? God used this scene from redemptive history to do several things in my life. First, he taught me about his holiness. For when a person comes to understand the true holiness of God’s nature, it shouldn’t be a big jump to understanding how unholy we fallen and sinful sons of Adam and daughters of Eve really are. Yet, Peter reminds us of God’s command from the Old Covenant to be holy as he is holy (1 Peter 1:16). Holiness is not optional. In fact, the Book of Hebrews reminds us that without this holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). The second, and even more unexpected aspect of being introduced to God’s holiness in this very startling way was how God used it to show me what his love for me really means. I believe I was at a place in my life where I actually believed God’s love was my due. It was God’s job to love me. It was “entitlement thinking” on my part. But as God’s providence would have it, at the same time I was teaching a class on his holiness, I was also teaching a class on Paul’s Letter to the Romans. And there I started digging into what grace really means. I began to understand what every confirmation class is taught… that grace is the unearned, unmerited, undeserved favor, blessing, and power of God. God first loved me because it is God’s character to love, but not because God is required to love me. God’s holiness, from which his justice flows, calls for my sin to be punished. My sin… our sin… is antithetical to the holiness of God and, as those created in his image, is displeasing to him and, to put it bluntly, tells lies about who he really is. Everything an image bearer does reflects on its Creator. It says something about the one who created it. When we sin, we’re saying something untrue about the One who made us. This is the human condition. This is why Isaiah cried out, “Woe to me!”… “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” It was not only that Isaiah was a fallen, sinful man, but so were his fellow Israelites. So are we all. That is part of the reason we cannot look upon the unveiled presence of God and live. He is too pure and holy. But Isaiah’s vision of the King was just that, a vision. Isaiah was a humble man; he therefore recognized this qualitative disparity. And so, he cried out. I too cried out when I recognized how good and gracious God’s love to me really was. How God had loved me my whole life. I couldn’t help but think of how undeserving I was. This was not a “worm theology” in which I saw myself as worthless. But this was like Isaiah’s revelation in which he understood himself to be unworthy to stand before the King. That is how I felt. Yet, that is exactly what made God’s love for me all the sweeter. That is what made it precious to me. That is what humbled me and melted my pride in a way that remains a vivid memory in my heart and mind to this very day. After an experience like this, Isaiah couldn’t help but answer God’s call to serve him. That should be what each of us does in response to God’s holy love. When we have truly understood God’s holy love for each of us, we should tremble, rejoice, fall before him, and give our lives to him. That appears to be what Isaiah did. God asked for a servant to bring a hard word to Israel, and Isaiah stepped up. He answered the call. His calling would be to deliver a message of judgment. There is no generation in which judgment is a welcomed guest. There is a reason we have the saying, “don’t shoot the messenger.” Isaiah wasn’t called to bring Israel his own assessment of how things were going and what was going to happen to them. Instead, he was bringing them God’s divine evaluation. And it wasn’t good. There would be judgment for Israel. This would not be a time of “superficial deliverance.” This would be what we sometimes refer to as “tough love.” All would be laid waste. Yet, “destruction is never God’s last word.” Hope would remain. A holy seed, a faithful remnant of God’s people would remain, from which the Messiah, and ultimately, deliverance and redemption, would come. I think I often forget there was a time when God’s people awaited the first Advent of the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of the living God. His coming was prophesied as early as Genesis and would be the hope of God’s people in every generation after. God would continue to provide foreshadowing and prophecies of the coming Messiah throughout the Old Covenant. We would learn where, when, and to whom he would be born, the royal line to which he would belong, and why he was coming. Recently, a religious leader in a denomination said, “It is not important that we agree on who Christ is. …God became flesh, but not particular flesh. There’s no particularity around that. God became incarnate in a culture, but not one culture.” But Israel’s Messiah, was just that… the Messiah of Israel. This anointed One, this Messiah, was of the seed of Eve, the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, of the line of King David, and remained the hope of Israel, a hope that existed only because God preserved a faithful remnant who did not bow to false gods and live in rebellion to him. This Messiah’s Old Covenant lineage is highlighted in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. And during this time of year especially, we learn that this Messiah would be born to a Jewish mother. The father who raised him and gave him his name was Jewish. And he would be named Jesus, because, the angel told his parents, he would save his people from their sin. The scandal of particularity matters a lot. Yet, by God’s grace, the deliverance, redemption, and reconciliation he brought during his first advent did not remain for Israel only but became a sacrificial and loving offering for the whole world. Thanks be to God. God’s love is holy… and his holiness is loving. They are inseparable and intricately connected because they are who God is, along with all his other attributes. They aren’t merely what God does, but who God is. And we are created in his image. We too are called to be holy as God is holy. We are commanded to love God and neighbor because God first loved us. Our lives of holy love should reflect God’s character and goodness in our lives. It’s my prayer for our church that during this season of Advent, God’s light would shine through us so brightly, that when others see it, they can’t help but give our Father in heaven praise and glory. Key Principles
Walking Points
Conclusion As we navigate the Advent season, let’s try to imagine the anticipation of the first Advent—the Messiah’s arrival, the hope of Israel. God’s love, embodied in Jesus, descended from a specific lineage, emphasizing the importance of particularity. This love, once preserved for Israel, now extends to the whole world through deliverance, redemption, and reconciliation found in Christ alone. May the holy love of God radiate through us during this Advent season, illuminating the path for others to praise and glorify our Heavenly Father (Matthew 5:16).
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Day 10
God’s Providential Hope Opening Prayer Gracious Heavenly Father, as we delve into the sacred words of Scripture, open our hearts to the profound message of hope heralded by John the Baptist. Prepare us to receive your Son, Jesus Christ, not only in this season of Advent but also in the everyday moments of our lives. May the truths we explore today transform our perspectives and guide us in living faithfully between the advents. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen. Scripture Reading Mark 1:1-8 1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, 3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ” 4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” The Great Tradition The way of the Lord must be prepared within the heart; for great and spacious is the heart of man, as if it were a whole world. But see its greatness, not in bodily quantity, but in the power of the mind which enables it to encompass so great a knowledge of the truth. Prepare, therefore, in your hearts the way of the Lord, by a worthy manner of life. Keep straight the path of your life, so that the words of the Lord may enter in without hindrance. (Origen) Prayer of Confession Forgive us, Lord, for the times we have devised expectations that limit your work in our lives. We confess the moments when we chose convenience over your Kingdom values. Renew our hearts, O God, and align our expectations with your will and eternal purposes. In Christ’s name, we pray. Amen. Reflection Four hundred long years had passed since Israel last heard from a prophet – from God himself. Four hundred years of silence. But now, there was one who spoke from the wilderness. His purpose? To declare the arrival of God’s promised one, the Messiah – the one who would rescue God’s people. How warmly welcomed that good news must have been, especially since Israel was under Roman rule. To finally be delivered from that oppression must have been music to their ears. The prophet John’s calling was to prepare the way for this mighty Deliverer by announcing his arrival. It was Jesus himself, just a few verses later (Mark 1:15), who would declare that his new Kingdom was now at hand. But how would a person become a citizen of this Kingdom? By repenting and believing God’s good news. God’s gracious and providential hope was still available after so many years had passed. That was remarkable. God never forgot the promises he made to his people. And yet the good news of God’s Kingdom was not welcomed as good news. God’s Deliverer was not embraced as such. We know from the life, ministry, and teaching of Jesus, that he and the Kingdom he ushered in were not what the people of his day had in mind. Jesus didn’t fit the expectations many had for the Messiah. He didn’t seem to say and do what the people had hoped he would say and do. Still, he was God’s providential hope for his people. Their only hope. Israel needed to be rescued from something far greater than Rome. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, was willing and able to save his people once-and-for-all. But not many of his people were willing to be saved on his terms. Their hopes and dreams took the shape of a temporal desire – to understandably be out from under the thumb of Roman rule. They allowed the good to become the enemy of the best. What are your expectations of Jesus? Are your hopes temporal only? Or are your hopes filtered through an eternal perspective? Advent is the liturgical time of year in which we more fully and formally remember that we live between the two appearances of our Lord, Jesus Christ. His first arrival, which we celebrate during the seasons of Advent and Christmas, ushered in God’s Kingdom – his rule and reign in our lives. Our focus during this time of year helps us better reflect upon who Jesus is and why he came. It also gives us space to think about how we ought to live in light of his return. Just as we are called to live responsively to his first advent, we must also live expectantly toward his second. That is the time, as C.S. Lewis put it, “when the author walks on to the stage [and] the play is over.” Lewis adds, “That will not be the time for choosing: it will be the time when we discover which side we really have chosen, whether we realized it before or not.” Are you prepared for the coming of Jesus? How can you better prepare for that Day? Looking at and learning from his first advent informs how we are called and commanded to live in preparation for his second one. More than that, it is only as we repent of our sin and believe his gospel – the good news of his Kingdom – that we can enter the fullness of life he offers. Key Principles
Walking Points
Conclusion During this Advent season let’s remember that our hope is not in the circumstances of the world but in the unchanging character of our God. May the joy of Christ’s first coming fill our hearts with thanksgiving and praise, and the hope of his second coming encourage us to live lives rooted and built up in the power of the gospel. CLICK HERE to listen to this week's devotional on the Walking Points Podcast or listen to it on your favorite podcast platform. There's always extra content on the audio version that I pray will bless you. Day 9
The Alpha and Omega Opening Prayer “O God, who in the days of old didst make thyself known to prophets and poets, and in the fulness of time didst reveal thyself in thy Son Jesus Christ: Help us to meditate upon the revelation of thyself which thou hast given, that thy constant love may become known to us, and that we may feel thy presence always with us; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Methodist Book of Worship, 1965) Scripture Reading Revelation 1:1-8 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near. 4 John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. 7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,” and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”; and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen. I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.” The Great Tradition In the same way the Lord applied to himself two Greek letters, the first and the last, as figures of the beginning and the end which are united in himself. For just as Alpha continues on until it reaches Omega and Omega completes the cycle back again to Alpha, so he meant to show us that in him is found the course of all things from the beginning to the end and from the end back to the beginning. Every divine dispensation should end in him through whom it first began, that is, in the Word made flesh. Accordingly, it should also end in the same way in which it first began. So truly in Christ are all things recalled to their beginning. (Tertullian) Prayer of Confession “Lord, in the everyday events of the holiday season so often we forget your message of hope and salvation for a lost and hurting world. Forgive us, Lord, and as this season progresses help us grow in our witness to your mercy and grace. Help us keep the pressures of the world in their proper place and help us share the true joy of Christmas. In Christ we pray. Amen.” (James Wilson) Reflection The last book of the Bible is entitled, “Revelation,” which means an unveiling of something previously unknown. More than that, it’s something that could not be known unless revealed by God. There’s a sense in which we can generally know about God through nature and conscience. However, Christians believe all the Bible is the special revelation of God. In other words, it’s only through Holy Scripture that we can learn more deeply about God and come to know him relationally. We might learn without the help of the Bible that two thousand years ago there existed an itinerant preacher named Jesus who was put to death by the Romans. But only through the revelation of God can we know that this same preacher was God incarnate who came to die for the sins of the world. Without revelation we would not know that God desires for us to have a relationship with him. We would not know this union with God can last beyond the grave. That is a small, though vitally important, amount of what we learn only through God’s special revelation. All the Bible is God’s Word inscripturated, but only Christ is the Word of God made flesh (John 1:1). Jesus was a unique revelation in that he was truly God with us (Matthew 1:2-3). He is still God with us in and through the Person of his Holy Spirit. As the Son of God, Jesus, in his preincarnate state, has existed in all eternity with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is truly Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. As Alpha, all things were made by and hold together in him (Colossians 1:17). Everything was made by him, for him, and through him (John 1:3, Colossians 1:15-16). As Omega he is the ultimate purpose for which everything has been made. Furthermore, his second advent will mark the end of all things as we know them. As the Apostle John says to those who will read the words found in Revelation, let’s do more than read the words about Jesus found in Scripture; let’s take them to heart. Key Principles
Walking Points
Conclusion As we delve into the depths of Revelation 1:1-8 during this Advent season, let’s be reminded of the profound truth that Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. May this revelation transform our understanding of the Christmas story and fill our lives with purpose, comfort, and a deep sense of awe. Let’s carry this truth with us as we navigate the busyness of the holiday season, becoming beacons of Christ’s light and love to a world in need. CLICK HERE to listen to this week's devotional on the Walking Points Podcast or listen to it on your favorite podcast platform. There's always extra content on the audio version that I pray will bless you. Day 8
The Humble Pen Opening Prayer God of grace, on this second Sunday of Advent, we thank you for reminding us that our Lord came to heal the sick, not the “healthy.” He came to dine and enjoy fellowship with sinners, not “the righteous.” Help us to follow his example and precepts by seeking and caring for the least, last, and lost. Cause our hearts to be burdened for such as these. And give us an understanding that we too were in such condition before you sought and saved us in our need. In Christ, we pray, Amen. Scripture Reading Luke 7:28-35 28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.) 31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other: “ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not cry.’ 33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.” The Great Tradition “If someone plucks this reed from the nursery garden of the earth, divests it of what is unnecessary, strips off the old man with his deeds, and fits it to the hand of a swiftly writing scribe,19 it begins to be not a reed but a pen. This pen imprints the precepts of Holy Writ in the inner mind and inscribes them on the tables of the heart. … Imitate this pen in the moderation of your flesh. Do not dip your pen, your flesh, in ink but in the Spirit of the living God so that what you write may be eternal. Paul wrote the epistle with such a pen, of which he says, “You are the epistle of Christ, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God.” Dip your flesh in the blood of Christ, as it is written, “that your foot may be dipped in blood.” Moisten the footprint of your spirit and the steps of your mind with the sure confession of the Lord’s cross. You dip your flesh in Christ’s blood as you wash away vices, purge sins and bear the death of Christ in your flesh, as the apostle taught us, saying, ‘bearing about in our body the dying of Jesus Christ.’” Ambrose Reflection As we continue through our sacred Advent season, let us delve into the profound wisdom of the Scriptures and open our hearts to the lessons embedded in Luke 7:28-35. This passage illuminates the contrasting responses to John the Baptist and Jesus, shedding light on the transformative power of humility, compassion, and God’s Kingdom perspective. Today, we focus on the significance of being God’s pen in a world that yearns for the good news of God’s grace. Ambrose offers a vivid analogy – “the reed plucked from the nursery garden of the earth, transformed into a pen. This pen, dipped not in earthly ink but in the Spirit of the living God, becomes a vessel to inscribe the precepts of Holy Writ on the tables of the heart.” Our Lord Jesus, in verses 28-30, exalts John the Baptist, declaring him the greatest among those born of women. Yet, the paradox unfolds - the least in the Kingdom of God surpasses even the greatness of John. The key lies in humility. John’s humility allowed him to decrease so that Christ might increase (John 3:30). We must pursue that same humility to be considered great in the Kingdom of God. A paradox indeed. Jesus, in verses 31-35, paints a picture of the contrasting responses to John and himself. Some rejected God’s purpose, clinging to their own self-righteousness. In contrast, those who acknowledged God’s way were baptized by John, demonstrating a willingness to repent and be transformed. The season of Advent calls us to discern God’s purpose amidst life’s temptations to accept and pursue false notions of greatness. The closing verses emphasize wisdom being vindicated by her children. Wisdom is not merely intellectual but lived out in transformed lives. In fact, a helpful definition of wisdom is “skill in the art of living.” Just as the pen, dipped in the blood of Christ, imprints eternal truths, our lives become a testimony to God’s wisdom when we experience godly change by embracing his transformative power. Walking Points
Conclusion May our lives, like echoes of great works of literature, unfold with purpose and the promise of redemption – all under the sovereign hand of our gracious God. To paraphrase the puritan pastor and author Richard Baxter, we are merely pens in the hand of a loving and holy God, and what credit is due a pen? As we journey through this Advent season, may we daily seek to be pens in the hand of our gracious God, inscribing the eternal story of his love on those he has entrusted to our care. Day 7
Build Yourself Up in the Faith Opening Prayer “Ever present God, you taught us that the night is far spent and the day is at hand. Grant that we may ever be found watching for the coming of your Son. Save us from undue love of the world, that we may wait with patient hope for the day of the Lord, and so abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may not be ashamed; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (UMC Book of Worship) Scripture Reading Jude 17-25 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. 22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh. The Great Tradition “Jude says that his beloved people must continue to build themselves up in their most holy faith, forever reforming themselves according to the Holy Spirit’s guidance; in other words, by building congregations up, by their preaching, in the teaching of the Holy Spirit.” (Oecumenius) Prayer of Confession “We admit to you, most merciful God, that we regularly fall short of holiness, and engage in behavior and entertain attitudes that not only prove self-destructive and hurtful to others, but detract from the gospel we profess with our lips. Forgive us, we pray, and help us to grow in love toward the perfect image of Christ Jesus, whose coming brings both joy and judgment for us all. In his blessed name we pray. Amen.” (Paul Laughlin) Reflection We may be tempted to think of the “last days” or “end times” as some distant event. A closer look at Scripture teaches us that it was the resurrection of Jesus Christ that brought forth the “last times” Jude addressed in his letter. As mentioned in a previous devotion, we are living between the two advents of Jesus, but in a very real sense, this whole period should be considered the “last times.” And what does Jude say about these last times? He reminded his first readers, just as he reminds us, that in such times “scoffers” (false teachers who mock our beliefs and hold the Christian faith in contempt) desire to break the body of Christ into pieces. These are people who follow their own passions and desires instead of submitting to the Lordship of Christ and the teaching of his appointed Apostles. And they are deceivers who want to drag down everyone else with them. So, what can followers of Christ do during such times? Jude says we must build ourselves up in the faith that was “entrusted to God’s holy people” (Jude 3). Oecumenius said we must continue to reform ourselves in the holy faith taught by the apostles. This too is part of the Great Commission. It is part of what it means to make disciples. For Jesus not only declared we must go into all the world and make disciples and baptize them in the triune name, but to also teach these new followers to obey everything our Lord commanded (Matthew 28:19-20). We should not think this is a “one and done” sort of thing. A life of genuine Christian discipleship is one of constant growth, for there is never a time when we no longer need to grow. If Christlikeness is our goal, then that is a lifelong pursuit. Thus, when we reflect on Jude’s warning that the last days will not be like walking a smooth trail, but closer to navigating rocky terrain sabotaged by false teachers, then how much more must we build ourselves up in the faith! Therefore, let us take heed to these inspired words of wisdom of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 2:6-7, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Key Principles
Walking Points
Conclusion As we navigate the challenges of these “last times,” let’s follow Jude’s wisdom by actively and intentionally engaging in building ourselves up in faith, maintaining God’s love, and extending his mercy to others. The Advent season is a perfect time for us to reflect on these principles and put them into practice, as we await the celebration of the birth of our Savior. And let’s pray for God’s guidance and strength as we walk with Christ, that we may be lights in the darkness, bringing hope and love to a world in need. Amen. Day 6
Our Inheritance in God Opening Prayer “O Thou who art the source of all existence and the light of all seeing: We remember with joy and awe that the world is thy creation, and that life is thy gift. Lift our thoughts from the littleness of our own works to the greatness, the majesty, and the wonder of thine, and teach us so to behold thy glory that we may grow into thy likeness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Methodist Book of Worship, 1965) Scripture Reading Psalm 16 Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. 2 I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” 3 I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” 4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more. I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods or take up their names on my lips. 5 Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. 6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. 7 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. 8 I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, 10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay. 11 You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. The Great Tradition “Our inheritance is the understanding of God (Evagrius), or more fully, the Lord is our inheritance (Augustine). We are to live now so as to possess the Lord (Jerome). He is everything for us (Leander). Let us express our love for him (Augustine). The measure of our inheritance depends on our capacity for God (Evagrius). The measure of Christ’s inheritance is the full company of the redeemed (Cassiodorus), and his passion for their salvation remained strong even in the nighttime of his suffering (Jerome). The path of righteousness is the line of sight fixed on God (Cassiodorus). We have the responsibility to set the Lord before us (Jerome). Christ’s position at the right hand reveals the equality of worth he shares with the Father (Hesychius).” Prayer of Confession “O Lord, as we come into your special presence, we bring with us the burdens of yesterday. Many of us have deep concerns about our families, our health, and our material welfare. All of us come to you with the blight of sins which have been committed and with goals which have not been met. Forgive our faults, we pray; give us strength to cope with our troubles and help us dispel our needless worries, thus freeing us to worship and prepare ourselves for the challenges of tomorrow. Amen.” (H. Burnham Kirkland) Reflection Gracious God, give me the faith of Psalm 16. I can think of no other way to begin this reflection than with that plea. Reading Psalm 16 is uplifting. May it be a constant prayer for us all. Verses 1-4 remind us that God alone is our safe refuge. God is the giver of good gifts and there is nothing good we have which did not come from him. Therefore, we will not bow to other gods… lesser so-called deities. We will not sacrifice to them or call upon them. Idolatry is a constant temptation for us. May God in his mercy uncover and expose our camouflaged gods and turn our hearts and attention back to him. Verses 5-8 remind us that God is our portion. He is enough. The boundaries he has established for us are safe and secure. When we are tempted to go beyond the safety of his will, let us be reminded that doing so takes us off the right path. It leads us into all manner of danger. Instead, let us be so saturated in the counsel of God, that even while we sleep at night, our hearts will meditate upon his wisdom. When we walk with the Lord at our right hand, we will not be ultimately shaken. While we may stumble and even fall, he is there to pick us up. He will never leave our side nor forsake us. Such a life, according to verses 9-11, leads us to gladness of heart and worship. How else should we respond? What does it mean to you that you will never be abandoned, even in death? What value do you place in the sure knowledge that not only will our loving God make known to us the path of life in the here and now, but that he will continually fill us with his joyful presence and offer us the hope of eternal pleasures, which are his to give to those whom he loves? Can you see now why this Psalm ought to be a prayer written upon our hearts? Key Principles
Walking Points
Conclusion As we reflect on this Advent season, let’s be reminded of the powerful image of Psalm 16. God is our refuge, our portion, and the source of everlasting joy. Let’s embrace these truths as we walk through the busyness and distractions of the season. More than that, let’s fix our eyes on him to help us from becoming distracted in the first place. As we look forward to the celebration of Christ’s birth, may we continually recall that he is the ultimate source of our joy, our refuge, and our inheritance. Thanks be to God. CLICK HERE to listen to this week's devotional on the Walking Points Podcast or listen to it on your favorite podcast platform. There's always extra content on the audio version that I pray will bless you. Day 5
Preparing for the Day Opening Prayer “Almighty God, who came to us long ago in the birth of Jesus Christ, be born in us anew today by the power of your Holy Spirit. We offer our lives as home to you and ask for grace and strength to live as your faithful, joyful children always. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” (Rueben Job) Scripture Reading 2 Peter 3:11-18 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. f That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. The Great Tradition May glory always be given to God our Lord and Savior, both now when we are still in the flesh and far from him, wandering through the daily pressures of our adversaries, and especially at that future time when he who has been long desired shall come to all the nations and deign to illuminate us by his presence. Meanwhile, as we await that glorious day, let us go on singing: “One day in your courts is better than a thousand.” (Bede) Prayer of Confession O God, as the Advent season reminds us of your imminent return, we also see the many places in our lives where we have been too careless in our ways and too free to walk the paths you would not have us travel. Forgive us, Lord, and take our hand that you might lead us into your paths of righteousness for all to see. Through Christ our Lord we pray. Amen.” (James Wilson) Reflection In what places in your life have you been “too careless in your ways?” What paths have you walked that the Lord “would not have you travel?” In today’s text, the Apostle Peter reminds us that heaven and earth, in their current state, will not continue. They will be consumed, not with rain this time but with fire. We therefore must be careful how we walk in this world, always with an eye on the “day of God.” My longtime mentor is fond of saying there are only two days we ought to have marked on our calendars: today and “that day.” By “that day” he means the same as Peter, the day of God when Christ will return and bring an end to everything as we know it. Or, as C.S. Lewis put it, that moment when the author walks onto the stage and signals the play is over. But this scene ought not be horrifying to Christians, those who look forward to the day of God and pray with the Apostle John, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). For on that day there will be brought forth a new heaven and new earth where the righteous will dwell (v. 13). Yet while we wait, we are not to be idle and unfaithful. Peter warns us to “make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with [the Lord]” (v. 14). More than that, we should rejoice that God is so patient. How many times have you thanked God for his patience with you throughout your life? Are you grateful the Lord did not return during earlier times in your life? Would you have been ready for him then? Even now, as someone who knows Christ, do you continue to make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with God? And while you understand you are not saved by your conduct; you know very well that your outward behavior can be an all too accurate indicator of what is taking place in your heart. Considering that sober reality, how grateful are you for the patience of God? Therefore, take Peter’s warning to heart and “be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position” (v. 17). Indeed, let’s continue to grow in the faith and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (v. 18), even as we await his return. Key Principles
Walking Points
Conclusion As we progress through the Advent season, let’s remember that our preparation is twofold: we anticipate the birth of Christ, and we eagerly await his return. On this pilgrimage, may we be filled with gratitude for God’s patience, vigilant in guarding our faith, and committed to growing in grace and knowledge. As we do so, we will be ready for the Day of God, not with fear but with joy and expectation. Let’s continue to sing, "One day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere," knowing that the best is yet to come. Amen. |
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Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path: (Proverbs 23:19)
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
(Matthew 7:13-14) |