Advent Devotional Dec 10
Week Two:
Creating Shalom means Sharing Love
Saturday, December 10, 2022
“A Repentance of Love” – Read Luke 3:1-18
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord . . .” (v. 4, NIV)
Advent is a time of preparing for the coming of Jesus, and we can’t find any more direct instructions than right here in today’s Gospel reading: level off the mountains, fill in the valleys, and smooth out the rough spots so that the way of God’s coming is free from obstacles. But what does this mean?
For John, it’s all summed up in a single word: repentance. This may surprise you, but John’s understanding of repentance fits in perfectly with our Advent theme for this week of love.
Really? “Repentance” and “love” go hand-in-hand?
John’s call to repentance challenges us to live our lives the way God would want us to. John tells us this means, for example, sharing our possessions with those who need them. His idea of repentance for us is to stop the actions that cause harm to ourselves and others and start those actions that bless others and even ourselves. Repentance for John is like weeding for a farmer: they both want to see wonderful, healthy, life-giving fruit grow and multiply.
Sounds pretty loving to me!
Years ago, my spouse’s aunt suffered a series of mini-strokes, and an eldercare specialist told us to remove all the rugs on the floors at home. To you or me, they all looked smooth and flat. But for our aunt, any area that was even slightly raised made it difficult for her to walk. Likewise, John asks us: What obstacles are making it difficult or even preventing God from coming our way? Every one is important to remove. Sure, the “big things” are easy to see and get rid of, but too often, it's the smallest of obstacles that can prevent God from bringing into our lives all the love we need. During Advent, paying attention to both the big and small obstacles in our lives can assure us that we won’t miss recognizing Jesus when he comes our way. This kind of repentance will surely invite more love to flow into our lives.
God, what obstacles have I placed between you and me? Is there anything in my life—big or small--that is preventing me from receiving the love of your son Jesus? Give me the courage to be not just a hearer of your word but a doer as well. Amen.
Anonymous
Local Church Member, the Heartland District
“A Repentance of Love” – Read Luke 3:1-18
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way for the Lord . . .” (v. 4, NIV)
Advent is a time of preparing for the coming of Jesus, and we can’t find any more direct instructions than right here in today’s Gospel reading: level off the mountains, fill in the valleys, and smooth out the rough spots so that the way of God’s coming is free from obstacles. But what does this mean?
For John, it’s all summed up in a single word: repentance. This may surprise you, but John’s understanding of repentance fits in perfectly with our Advent theme for this week of love.
Really? “Repentance” and “love” go hand-in-hand?
John’s call to repentance challenges us to live our lives the way God would want us to. John tells us this means, for example, sharing our possessions with those who need them. His idea of repentance for us is to stop the actions that cause harm to ourselves and others and start those actions that bless others and even ourselves. Repentance for John is like weeding for a farmer: they both want to see wonderful, healthy, life-giving fruit grow and multiply.
Sounds pretty loving to me!
Years ago, my spouse’s aunt suffered a series of mini-strokes, and an eldercare specialist told us to remove all the rugs on the floors at home. To you or me, they all looked smooth and flat. But for our aunt, any area that was even slightly raised made it difficult for her to walk. Likewise, John asks us: What obstacles are making it difficult or even preventing God from coming our way? Every one is important to remove. Sure, the “big things” are easy to see and get rid of, but too often, it's the smallest of obstacles that can prevent God from bringing into our lives all the love we need. During Advent, paying attention to both the big and small obstacles in our lives can assure us that we won’t miss recognizing Jesus when he comes our way. This kind of repentance will surely invite more love to flow into our lives.
God, what obstacles have I placed between you and me? Is there anything in my life—big or small--that is preventing me from receiving the love of your son Jesus? Give me the courage to be not just a hearer of your word but a doer as well. Amen.
Anonymous
Local Church Member, the Heartland District
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