Morning Devotional

Luke 1:46-55 
46     Mary said, “With all my heart I glorify the Lord!
47     In the depths of who I am I rejoice in God my savior.
48     He has looked with favor on the low status of his servant.
         Look! From now on, everyone will consider me highly favored
49     because the mighty one has done great things for me.
         Holy is his name.
50     He shows mercy to everyone,
         from one generation to the next,
         who honors him as God.
51     He has shown strength with his arm.
         He has scattered those with arrogant thoughts and proud inclinations.
52     He has pulled the powerful down from their thrones
         and lifted up the lowly.
53     He has filled the hungry with good things
         and sent the rich away empty-handed.
54     He has come to the aid of his servant Israel,
         remembering his mercy,
55     just as he promised to our ancestors,
         to Abraham and to Abraham’s descendants forever.” 
 

This morning we gather and begin the Advent season of preparing ourselves for the coming of Jesus. Advent symbolizes the present situation of the church in these “last days” (Acts 2:17, Hebrews 1:2), as God’s people wait for the return of Christ in glory to consummate his eternal kingdom. Today's church is in a similar situation to Israel at the end of the Old Testament: in exile, waiting and hoping in prayerful expectation for the coming of the Messiah. Israel looked back to God’s past gracious actions on their behalf in leading them out of Egypt in the Exodus, and on this basis, they called for God once again to act for them. In the same way, the Church, during Advent, looks back upon Christ’s coming in celebration while at the same time looking forward in eager anticipation to the coming of Christ’s kingdom when he returns for his people. In this light, the Advent hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” perfectly represents the church’s cry during the Advent season:

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

While Israel would have sung the song in expectation of Christ’s first coming, the church now sings the song in commemoration of that first coming and in expectation of the second coming in the future. 

Advent is a season of Hope, praying without ceasing, a time of silence in a noisy world. Advent is a reminder that God is calling us like He called Mary. Mary was the bearer of Hope, peace, joy and a love deeper than we can understand. We too are now called out in the craziness of life to stand tall and with all our heart, Glorify the Lord! 

May this Advent season bring a change to your life, a new commitment and powerful reminder of what God calls Holy.  I am in great hopes that we will see other later this morning.

Prayer: My God, Lord Jesus, teach me how to keep my mind and heart open to your more challenging blessings. Give me the wisdom to share what I have, not to hoard it just for myself. I ask for this wisdom through your Son Jesus, Amen.