Advent Devotion, December 11, 2014
Reading: John 1: 19-28
Written by:  Brooks Collins

I find it interesting that whenever something has great importance to a person (or a people), there is usually a period of considerable preparation leading up to it.  In our secular world, sports teams hold training camps to get ready for the regular season when games "count". The most prepared team or athlete has the best chance of winning the championship.  A business person might work all year in preparation (and hope) for an end-of-year bonus.  In Christianity, arguably the 2 most significant events we celebrate each come with a period of preparation:  Easter, prepared for throughout Lent, and Christmas prepared for throughout Advent.  During my childhood, we celebrated Advent each night with an Advent wreath and calendar, both of which had been made by my frugal and craft-y mother.  At dinner each night as we read that day's devotion, we grew in anticipation of celebrating the miraculous birth of the Savior of the world, come to earth as a baby on Christmas morning.  What might have seemed insignificant that night in a manger changed the world forever.  And He is still doing so today.

Lord, each day throughout Advent, let us remember Psalm 46:10 to "be still and know that you are God" as we prepare our hearts for the coming Christ child.  Amen.