Advent Devotional, December 7

DECEMBER 7 – Exodus 2: 23-25

By: Ken Shuster

In the course of those many days the king of Egypt died. And the people of Israel groaned under their bondage, and cried out for help, and their cry under bondage came up to God. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God saw the people of Israel, and God knew their condition. (RSV)

How often do we look to God feeling or thinking that He has to be told who we are and what we need? Again, scripture reminds us that God knows who we are, what is happening to us and most of all the promises (covenants) that He has entered into with us. We need to remember that we are His children and as with any parent we are the ones that need to be obedient and listen. As a child we must be respectful and trusting our Heavenly Father will care for us, in His way and in His time. The Israelites have long been in bondage, as we are in bondage to sin. God knows this; He does not need us to say “I am sinful”. He wants to see us repent, to release ourselves from the bondage that we have placed ourselves in and walk toward Him. His covenant with us is in and through Christ as our Savior. God sees us, hears us and wants to give to us as any loving father would with his child. But if we do not walk (act) in the way our Father tells us, though Christ, then He will also wait until He sees that we are ready for Him to answer our voices.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, help us to learn from the words of Christ, our Savior,
who you have given to us to teach us Your way. Teach us to listen to You
so we can follow Christ to You. Our future, as Your children, is in Your
mercy not in our actions.

Family Moment

God’s people were suffering in Egypt. How do we suffer today? God hears our prayers today just
like He heard the prayers of His people in Egypt. God sent Moses to lead them out of their suffering.
Who did God send to give us hope?

Advent Deovtional - December 6

DECEMBER 6 – Genesis 35: 9-21

By: Jeanette Nation

My first thought when I received this verse to write about was “what can the book of Genesis possibly tell me about a baby Messiah and how can I possibly figure out how it relates to Advent”. So, I thought, this would be the question I would ask myself while reading the passages and much to my surprise the answer found me. How many times has that happened to you? Perhaps you were hurting or trying to find answers, flipped to a verse, and behold you found the inspiration or hope that you needed.

In Verse 9 the writer conveys that “God appeared to Jacob”. That’s it!! God Appeared!! He appeared to Mary in the form of an angel, he appeared to Joseph in a dream, and he appeared to the world in the form of a star that pointed toward Bethlehem. Genesis is a perfect place to start learning about Jesus after all!!

 Prayer

Dear Lord, You were in the beginning and will be forever. Thank you for giving us Your word through biblical text so we may come to know your Son Jesus. Amen.

Family Moment

About 1,750 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Benjamin was born on the outskirts of town. Benjamin (son of Jacob who was son of Isaac who was the son of Abraham) was Jesus’ greatgreat-
great-great (and so on) grandfather. Make a family tree and talk about how your ancestors have been a blessing to your family today.

Advent Devotional - December 5

DECEMBER 5 – Genesis 28: 10-17

By: Dennis McClellan

The story isn’t new. It’s as old as time: a man on the run (in the Genesis story, Jacob), trying to get from one situation (in Beersheba) and running toward another (in Herran), unsure of the outcome, but surely in need of a sign.

It’s sort of like Advent. We’re moving from life and its everyday challenges (a fair number of them negative), through Advent, converging on a sign from God. God is preparing us for a journey from everyday existence toward the exciting birth of Jesus – the sign that life has changed for us. We have the opportunity to experience a change of heart (like Jacob did along the road from Beersheba to Harran) and begin a life renewed.

We’re not there yet. It’s going to happen soon. The anticipation is building. God is entering our lives in a new way – through the birth of his earthly son. God is not distant from us. His promise of renewed life is almost here. The birth of the baby Jesus gives us all – no matter how we live our everyday lives – an opportunity to experience a change of heart. As Jacob said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”

I for one am looking forward to it.

Prayer

As this day began, I wondered where I’d be when the sun finally sat…What road(s) I would travel and what challenges would confront me. Perhaps I think too much, and need to understand, that while I have choice, God is with me on my daily passage. Allow me to appreciate the trip, and believe that at the end of the journey, something good will have happened to me and those I met along the way. Thank you, Jesus for being there for me at the end of the day, at the end of the journey. Let me appreciate the promise that exists at the end of all my journeys – and come to understand the promise and love that the journey of Advent brings for all of us. Help me to stay aware of the simplicity of the journey, and remember that journeys can and should be celebrated. Help me to remember what I am truly celebrating and allow my heart and mouth to say, “Come Lord Jesus.” AMEN.

Family Moment

Jacob was Abraham’s grandson. He dreamed of God’s angels walking up and down on a ladder between heaven and earth. God spoke to Jacob in the dream. God promised to give him land to live on and many children so that the family would grow so large that it would spread over the earth. God
promised to always be with them. What a wonderful promise and blessing! Make a list of the ways God has blessed your family.

Advent Devotional - December 4

DECEMBER 4 – Genesis 22: 15-18

By: Michael Colgan

In this passage, God repeats his earlier promise to Abraham: “Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that will certainly bless you.” Although God has already told Abraham that he will give him more descendants than stars in the sky, it is Abraham’s faith that now ratifies God’s offer. And God’s covenant is fulfilled in one of the many descendants that God promises Abraham, through the birth that we now await with joy and anticipation.

Has faith in God’s words brought his promises to work in your own life? Was there a point where God’s blessings were elevated in your own experience from words on a page to living gifts that you have come to trust in?

Prayer

LORD, help me to not only hear all the promises you have graciously made but to accept those promises with faith and joy. Through my faith in your Word, make me an instrument of your Kingdom. Amen.

Family Moment

Abraham had waited 100 years to be a father. In today’s passage, God promises to reward Abraham’s faithfulness by making him a father (and grandfather and great grandfather!) to as many children as there are stars in the sky! Go outside and try to count the stars. Then, take a piece of black construction paper and use a white crayon to color stars on the paper. Make a constellation showing how God keeps his promises.

Advent Devotional - December 3

DECEMBER 3 – Genesis 3: 20-24

By: Frank Raike

I have a hope. I believe as humankind moves through time and history, we are getting closer to heaven. In today’s world, we work the ground less and have greater rewards with fewer struggles, then the generations before us. I believe that in today’s world, we have the ability to end starvation, limit conflicts, and help all people of all beliefs and faiths to prosper. I see a glimpse of us returning to the Garden of Eden and residing with our Lord. All people will live in a world of love, comfort, peace, and joy, forever.

We were banished from Eden knowing good and evil, right from wrong, and mainly the basis of how to live our lives in positive relationship with others. Unfortunately, like the typical child who will rarely take the advice of the parent, we seek our own ways to live through our personal trials and experiences, moment to moment, day by day. It’s through these lessons of consequences and awards

that we are driven to understand and find the balance of living in grace, love, and peace with  ourselves and with others.

I have faith this Christmas season that each of us have learned well and have less challenges in these days, then what was in the lives of the people who went before us . I have faith that each Christmas brings us closer to heaven through the relationships with all people. Ultimately, I believe what we took from the Tree of Knowledge, forgiven for doing so by the grace of Jesus Christ, is the Christmas Gift given to us each day by God. I see heaven on earth as we all come to understand, live and prosper in a world love, grace, joy, and peace.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, open our hearts and minds to hear and understand the lessons of the many, so we know the love, peace, and power of your grace at Christmas and all year long. Amen.

Family Moment

What does it mean to turn away from God’s love? We all have done something we knew was wrong. We all have sin and live in a sinful world. God’s love is greater than any sin or wrong we can do. God’s love is greater than all the stars in the sky. Go outside tonight and see how many stars you can count. Remember God loves you more than all the stars in the sky no matter what.

Advent Devotional - December 2

DECEMBER 2 – Genesis 1:1-5

By: Michael Strickland-Dobbs

For me this passage sets the tone for the rest of the bible. Knowing that God created everything from nothing in that moment, guides me in the reassurance of the spoken word. When God says, “Let there be light” and there was light His word gives a strength that helps me. For me the power of prayer, spoken aloud and especially with others allows me to see God and Jesus in that light. In all the darkness of life’s struggles, knowing that this light is there for all of us and that all is good strengthens me.

Prayer

Dear God, As we approach this joyous season, we pray that the love and the light you have given us shines as bright as always and leads us to peace through your son, Jesus Christ. Amen

Family Moment

God is the creator of every good thing! As a family, take turns sharing something that God made. You can illustrate how many things God made by putting a rock or a penny in a jar – one for everything that God made. Pray together: Creator God, thank you for making everything. Thank you for making my family. You are so good! AMEN.

Advent Devotional - December 1

DECEMBER 1 – John 1:1-5

By: Dorothy Hussey

In the beginning was the Word … Christ the Living Word, the One True Son of God, the Light of the World was with God in the beginning. HE was WITH God what an awesome place to be, a place of honor, and glory and with the Creator of the Universe. Christ gave up that place to come into a world filled with the people who consistently rejected God, He gave up that place to become like us, so that We would have one more chance to “get it”. He came into this world, the same way we did, he left  this world 33 years later on a wooden cross, on a hill, mocked and scorned and humiliated in order that we wouldn’t have to die that way. He provided us a way to a place of honor and glory with the creator of the Universe, for Eternity. I thank God at Christmas for the Gift of His Son, the Light and Life to a sin-filled world; His birth and especially His death.

Prayer
Father God, this Christmas as we get caught up in the “busy-ness” of the season with the lights and music and hustle, that you bring us back to the real meaning of the baby whom we celebrate and take our thoughts to the man he became and the gift he gave us; the hope of eternal life. Amen.


Family Moment
Who is God’s great Light? What does this passage tell us about this light? Go into a dark room and light a candle (or turn on a flashlight). See how the light is brighter than the darkness? Jesus is the same – brighter than the darkness!