Devotionals for November 24, 2005
By Connie White
Member, First Baptist Church, Newport News
Editor's note: As the Christmas season approaches, we offer the following daily devotional thoughts. Subsequent devotionals will appear in the Religious Herald between now and Christmas.
Week One: Hope
November 27*
(First Sunday of Advent)
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:30-31, NIV).
Many of our fellow citizens, most notably those who live on the Gulf coast, experienced unimaginable suffering and loss as a result of severe hurricanes during the summer. As the holiday season settles down upon us, these folks remain displaced and uncertain about their futures. Perhaps we best understand the hope that only God can give when we face some type of disaster-whether it be national or personal. Whatever we have faced, we always have hope in God-hope for deeper understanding, hope for more patience, hope for heightened compassion. As we look forward to celebrating Christ's birth, let us put our hope in God, the author and finisher of our faith.
Thank you, God, that when all else fails us, we can place our hope in you. Walk with us as we move among a hopeless people and help us to share the hope you offer with them.
*If your family celebrates Advent by lighting candles at home, light the first today. On subsequent Sundays, light the next three . The center candle, the Christ Candle, is lit on Christmas Eve.
November 28
“ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future' ” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV).
We are a future-minded people! From the time children begin to understand that they will one day become adults, we ask them what they will become when they “grow up.” We plan for the next vacation, the next house, the next job, the next class, the next car and on and on and on. This verse reminds us of the glorious truth that our ultimate future has already been planned for us. God, in his love and grace, took care of that in the manger, on Calvary and in the empty tomb. As we anticipate all the joy that Christmas brings, let us also remember that the One whose birth we celebrate is also the One whose sacrifice secured our eternal futures.
Thank you, God, that you love us enough to provide an eternal future with you in glory!
November 29
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans 12:12, NIV).
Suffering from a “thorn in the flesh” himself, Paul undoubtedly understood affliction well. In spite of his physical circumstance, or perhaps because of them, Paul knew the importance of hope. He reminds believers not only to hope but to hope joyfully! Regardless of the circumstances we face today, we can be joyful. Our hope is in the Lord who knows our names, cares about our troubles, and walks with us through all of life. If today holds nothing that brings us joy, we are still a joyful people. The God of all creation loves us so much that he sent his Son. Do we have reason to hope? Absolutely!
Thank you God that you offer hope and allow us to know joy as we hope.
November 30
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say ‘no' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, while we wait for the blessed hope-the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:11-14, NIV).
Waiting … waiting … waiting. We “hurry up and wait” more often than we would like to admit. We wait in check-out lines. We wait for the mail. We wait for payday. We wait for good and bad news. Regardless of our situations, we all wait. Paul reminds Titus, and us, that we are to be self-controlled, upright and godly while we wait because ours is a blessed hope. The same Christ who appeared first in a manager will one day appear again and claim us as his own! When the inevitable waiting that accompanies many of our holiday activities begins to bother us, let us not forget that we are a hopeful people.
Thank you, God, for the blessed hope who greeted us in a manger and an open tomb and who will one day welcome us to eternal life.
December 1
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade-kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5, NIV).
Knowing that he had denied Christ couldn't have made being with Jesus after his resurrection a comfortable one for Peter. Tempering his joy that Jesus was alive was the fact of his own failure which must have hung thick between them. Imagine Peter's relief when Jesus reached out to him that morning beside the Sea of Galilee. Perhaps his unique experiences equipped Peter to embrace the concept of a living hope-a firm conviction of things to come. As we anticipate the celebration of Jesus' birth, let us also experience the living hope that he gives all believers.
Thank you, God, that the hope you offer is active and living. Help us to understand and experience the hope that only you can give today.
December 2
“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love” (I Corinthians 13:13, NIV).
In this well-familiar passage, the Apostle Paul reminds us that nothing surpasses Christian love. He also affirms that when everything else passes away, faith and hope also remain. Perhaps we should pause for a moment and consider the significance of this verse. God will always give us faith, hope, and love. These gifts are not namby-pamby human concepts. They are powerful gifts given by a loving God in order to equip believers for life in an ungodly world. As we anticipate Christmas, let us give thanks for the hope that only God can give.
Father, how we thank you for taking care of our needs even before we can identify them. Help us to live faithfully, hope expectantly, and love purely.
December 3
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation;
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of ev'ry nation,
Joy of every longing heart.
(Charles Wesley, 1707-1788)
Wesley says it well in the words of this familiar Advent hymn. Jesus is the hope of all the earth, of all peoples everywhere. May we not forget that countless millions still need to meet the Hope of the World! During the Advent season this year, may we find time and resources with which to acquaint our world with its one and only Hope!
Help us, O God, to remember why we celebrate Christmas. Make us aware of opportunities to introduce others to You as we experience Advent this year. Thank you for the hope that only you can give.
Week Two: Peace
December 4
(Second Sunday of Advent)
“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” (Isaiah 9:6, NIV).
The theme for the second week of Advent is peace, God's perfect peace. Believers know that God delivered his gift of peace in Bethlehem and announced the birth through the glorious voice of an angel. However, the angel did not use any of Isaiah's names for the baby. Rather, the heavenly messenger called the baby a Savior, Christ the Lord. What a wonderful summation of Isaiah's names for Jesus! No one but the Savior could embody all of prophet's names. As we move through this week, we will focus on the peace that Jesus brings.
Thank you, Father, for sending Jesus to live in peace among us, to teach us to live in peace with each other, and to indwell us with your unmistakable peace.
December 5
“He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace” (Micah 5:4-5a, NIV).
Peace, an illusive goal for mankind, becomes a reality for individuals only as we understand the source of authentic peace. Micah, who foretells Jesus' Bethlehem birth in 5:2, gives a beautiful portrait of Jesus when he describes a strong, majestic shepherd. Notice that Micah does not predict that Jesus will come in peace. Rather, he states that Jesus will be our peace. Micah's distinction makes all of the difference for us! Many will come to us in peace during our lifetimes. Most often, those folks will be sincere and helpful. Sometimes, they will have agendas that are self-serving and prove to be detrimental to us. However, only Jesus is our peace. Regardless of our circumstances, Christ reaches out with comfort and assurance that only comes from God. As the days of Advent fly by, may we remember the One who is our Peace.
Thank you, Lord, for being our true peace. Help us to experience your presence uniquely during this season and to share your peace with others in our world.
December 6
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God” (Matthew 5:9, NIV).
Sometimes, we look into a child's face and see the reflection of his or her parent. Sometimes, we witness a child's behavior and recall the actions of the parent. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is assuring us that when we become peacemakers, others will see God in us. This promise is both awesome and humbling. When unsettling circumstances occur -at home, at work, at school, at church, God's children can choose to become peacemakers. The extent to which our words and deeds bring peace and not discord will determine the extent to which we resemble our Father.
Father, help our actions be clear reflections of your love and peace. Give us grace and wisdom to be peacemakers through all of life.
December 7
“Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness” (James 3:18, NIV).
Probably the oldest of Jesus' (half) brothers, James brings a depth of understanding to his writing that only immediate family members can have. James experienced Jesus as his perfect brother, became skeptical about Jesus' mission and ministry, and knew of his crucifixion and resurrection. Ultimately, James became a leader in the church in Jerusalem and, according to tradition, was martyred for his faith. Given his “credentials” as Jesus' brother and experiences as a believer and church leader who steered the infant church through a time of conflict, James is well-qualified to comment on peace. He remembered Jesus' words in Matthew 5:5, and he understood that the righteous harvest will be reserved for those peacemakers who sow in peace.
On this day, when we remember Pearl Harbor, let us give thanks that true peace does not come through political or military power and that no power or person can ever remove God's peace from our hearts.
Guide us to be a peaceful people who honor you with our peace-making behaviors, and we will trust you joyfully for the harvest we will reap now and in the world to come.
December 8
“And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7, NIV).
How often we quote all or part of this verse! Some things defy description, and the peace that passes understanding falls into that category. Experiencing an internal calm that rises above chaotic circumstances, having a rock-solid joy that shines through desperate grief, and anticipating an eternal home that awaits all believers are only a few descriptions of God's peace. May the peace that transcends all understanding transform believers in such a way that others will see us and want to meet the Prince of Peace.
On our own, Lord, we cannot bring authentic peace to our circumstances. Touch us with your peace and help us share it with those around us.
December 9
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27, NIV).
When he speaks these words, Bethlehem's baby, grown to manhood, faces Golgotha's cross. His crucifixion will be mankind's defining moment. His sacrificial death and victorious resurrection will reconcile fallen human beings with the God of love. Jesus knows he will endure undeserved but necessary pain and humiliation. Rather than focus on his circumstance, Jesus prepares his disciples by promising to give them peace, his peace. He knows that his peace will equip believers to face any adversity without worry or fear. This is the peace about which the angels sang, and it is God's gift to believers, delivered by his own Son. May we obey Jesus gratefully and allow his peace to replace our anxieties and our fears.
Thank you, God, for Jesus, your greatest sacrifice and gift. Help us to accept his peace and to share the good news of his love with a world that needs to hear.
December 10
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along th' unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head:
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
Till, ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
(Henry W. Longfellow, 1807-1882)
Longfellow's poem appropriately depicts the journeys of many believers. We hear the good news of God's love. We repeat the news and accept it as truth. Inevitably, something happens to discourage us, and we lose touch with God's peace. But then, God reaches into our lives through a song's lyrics or a believer's touch. In that moment, we recognize his presence and welcome his peace. The word advent means “coming.” In this season we Christians call Advent, we remember that Jesus came to the world as God incarnate. But he also comes to us again and again as our faith firms or falters as the case may be.
Thank you, God, for continuing to send your peace. Help us to accept it, to appreciate it, and to allow it to take root in our lives.