Advent Devotional - November 30

November 30

Psalm 71:13-18

“I will always have hope and will praise you more and more.”

Psalm 71:14

Do you remember a moment of great joy where your first thought was to find someone that you could share that good news with? The beneficiaries of such good news are most often family and close friends…perhaps the first one to answer your call, maybe even the first person you see!

The Psalmist cannot contain his joy in realizing all that God has done for him. Verse fifteen says, “My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds, of your saving acts all day long.” This isn’t the casual proclamation of an occasional blessing. This is an all day, every day approach to life that cannot be contained. Praise spills over from a sense of God’s blessing and presence that must be shared. Note that this isn’t situational or even seasonal. The Psalmist declares his desire to tell this story, even into his old age, that those who are to come will hear and know the marvelous deeds of God.

The season of Advent calls us to reflection and preparation. But it is only part of a calendar of life that is to be a continuing reflection of praise for almighty God. “Glory to God in the highest,” the angels shouted as they proclaimed the birth of Jesus to the Shepherds. That is a proclamation of praise that should mark our lives as well. Yes, I will always have hope and will praise God more and more for God’s wondrous gift of love, Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Glory and honor to you, O God…Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer. Through all the days of my life, may my praise bring honor to you and good news to the world around me. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional - November 29

November 29

Romans 4:16-21

“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…”

Romans 4:18a

There are many, what one might call, “National Enquirer” moments in scripture. You know, those miracle stories that when retold, find listeners shaking their heads in disbelief at the impossibility of such a thing being actually true. Paul cites such a story in our text today, reminding his listeners of an aged man and woman who believed in the promise of God, and as a result of God’s faithfulness, welcomed their first-born son into the world at a stage of life when they could have easily been his great, great, great grandparents. No one in their right mind could have hoped for such an outcome, and yet, as the angel said to Mary in announcing that she would bear the Son of God, “With God, nothing shall be impossible.”

The story of Christmas is an “against all hope” story. No one would suspect that the Creator God would come in human form, born in the lowliest of societal expectations, to bring transformation to the human heart, and yet that is exactly what was done. It is an amazing story of love and mercy, brought forth from the only place such miracles can come…the heart of God. Paul tells us in the last few verses of today’s text, that Abraham trusted the heart of God; “…he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”

The theme of this first week of Advent is hope. Spend some quiet time today, remembering the story of Abraham and Sarah, Mary and Joseph, and perhaps your own story. In these “against all hope,” moments, remember…and believe.

Prayer: God of possibility, in the “against all hope” moments of life, may we trust in you. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional - November 28

November 28

Psalm 52:1-9

“I will hope in your name, for your name is good.”

Psalm 52:9b

An ancient Jewish saying states, "With each child, the world begins anew." For many parents, the name they choose for their child is an important step in the birthing process. The world indeed begins anew as the child’s name is repeated on the lips of parents, grandparents, and friends. As he or she grows, others claim identity with that child as they call his or her name, and as that name becomes a part of their circle of relationship.

The Psalmist often calls upon the name of the Lord. In our text today, he hopes in that name, because it is good. Of the child of hope that would be born for all, the prophet Isaiah called him, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Yes, there is hope in the name of the One whose love and grace are made evident in another name…the name of Jesus.

Throughout these days of Advent, speak that name again and again as reminder of the hope you have because of the birth of a child, unlike any other, whose name is Jesus.

Jesus…Jesus…Jesus

Prayer: Name above all names, Jesus, the Christ, we celebrate your coming as a child, the gift of God, to make this world new. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional - November 27

Each morning, I will post a devotional thought for the day with corresponding scripture text and prayer. My hope is that these daily devotionals will aid your walk through Advent and encourage a few quiet moments each day to ponder the coming Christ. May God guide our steps through these important days.

Jim Abernathy

November 27

Lamentations 3:24-26

“It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.”

Lamentations 3:26

Peter Marshall, Chaplain of the United States Senate more than half a century ago, wrote, “Teach us, O Lord, the disciplines of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work.” There is a real temptation to believe that our value exists solely in the significance of our actions…to be busy is to be fulfilled. If that were true, many of us would be hilariously happy and content! Sadly, such busyness is a constant distraction from that which truly brings joy and peace.

Today, we begin the season of Advent…a journey to the manger of Bethlehem, but also reminder to us of the hope we await in the returning Christ. We often speak of the rush of this season with its many opportunities, observances, and demands. The writer of Lamentations, however, seems to offer us a sound alternative to the chaos of our schedules and the pressure of the demands placed upon us. “The Lord is my portion,” he writes, “therefore, I will wait on him.” At the heart of this statement is a genuine sense of trust. The writer is willing to wait because he trusts that God will act on his behalf.

Advent reminds us that God has acted on all our behalves, through the birth of Jesus. It also serves to remind us of the hope we have for the return of Christ. The busyness we experience from now through the end of December is not uncommon. The opportunity before us, however, to wait upon the Lord is indeed an uncommon hope. “The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him.”

Wait…hope…seek…

Prayer: Gracious God, may we wait upon you, hope in your wondrous promises, and seek you throughout our Advent journey. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

Black-Eye Friday

Early reports are coming in from Black Friday and the headlines aren't about the amount of money shoppers are spending, but about the lengths they are willing to go to get the item or items they want. A Los Angeles woman, determined to have her pick of electronics at her local Wal-Mart, pepper-sprayed other shoppers to keep them away. In the resulting melee, fifteen people were hurt. Three shoppers in a Rome, New York Wal-Mart got into a fight in the electronics department, sending two of them to the hospital and the third, to jail. Seven such incidents were reported at Wal-Mart stores across the country. Perhaps a better name for this shopping opportunity after Thanksgiving would be Black-Eye Friday! Were it only a Wal-Mart phenomenon, one could simply avoid that store for the first hours after Thanksgiving. However, reports document other altercations at stores, malls, and parking lots across the nation, perhaps redefining our society's understanding of "Christmas Spirit."

Hearing these stories, scanning the advertisements in the newspapers, or watching the commercials on television, one might be under the impression that Christmas begins and ends at the mall, the local car dealership, or at any of a million dot coms. As Advent begins this Sunday, there is opportunity once more for those searching for a different kind of celebration to find meaning beyond the merchandising of Christmas.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of a people walking in darkness, seeing a great light. The gospel writer John wrote of One whose coming brought light to a dark world. With each week of Advent, we will light a candle...hope, peace, joy, and love. Each flame will be symbolic of something beyond the commonplace, something much greater than what we too often settle for.

The rush and chaos of Black Friday will give way to Advent this Sunday morning. The light of Hope will illuminate our sanctuary as we gather to worship. I encourage you to join in this celebration and find once more a journey to Bethlehem that will bring change to your heart, not because you fought hard to get the treasure you wanted at the mall, but because the light of Christ dawned once more on you and others, seeking the brightness of the living Christ.

I will be posting daily Advent devotionals starting this Sunday. May these, and other observances of the season call you to reflection as you contemplate God's wondrous gift of love, Jesus Christ.

Jim Abernathy

Personal Privilege

The stately southern gentlemen stood to his feet and spoke into the microphone. "Sir," he calmly and respectfully said, "I rise to a point of personal privilege." "The chair recognizes you sir," the moderator responded with an equivalent sense of calm and respect. I don't remember what came after that exchange...I was too impressed by the civility of the gentle conversation and the intentional action that propelled the man to interrupt the business of the body to make his own point. Sometimes the significance of the message empowers the interruption.

I rise today to a point of personal privilege. No, there is no moderator to interrupt or heated debate to set aside to make this personal point. I do, however, ask your indulgence to make a point that I believe is significant. The apostle Paul, writing to the church in Philippi, said, "if anything is excellent and if anything is admirable, focus your thoughts on these things: all that is true, all that is holy, all that is just, all that is pure, all that is lovely, and all that is worthy of praise." I am blessed to focus my attention today on something that is worthy of praise, for as God is at work in the human relationships we share, gratitude is indeed an attitude of praise.

Thirty years ago this Monday, November 21, Cindy Fry committed herself to a relationship of love that positioned her for a life of ministry as the spouse of a pastor. I thought then, and have been told a number of times since that day that I was a most fortunate man...'married above my station,' some would say, and I would affirm that they were then and are still today, right in their assessment. I met Cindy when she and I were on staff at First Baptist Church in Scottsburg, Indiana. We were both seminary students, gaining experience through part-time ministry, sharing rides occasionally form Louisville to Scottsburg on weekends. I can't say it was love at first sight...at least from Cindy's perspective. But over a period of time, she came to embrace me as more than a ministry colleague. We were married at Second Mount Pleasant Baptist Church in Franklin, Indiana and began a life together that has indeed been blessed.

I take this moment of personal privilege to confess before you how grateful I am for these past thirty years and for the many blessings that have been mine. I recognize that I have a platform that others do not, and do not take this privilege lightly. My ultimate goal here is to honor the living God whose hand has been at work in our lives through everything we have faced, encouraging, empowering our steps...enticing us to step forward in faith to do what we would not always have chosen to do ourselves. And through it all, Cindy has smiled, made the necessary adjustments, and walked beside me without missing a step. No, we don't walk together at 5 every morning, and no, we aren't always walking in agreement on every detail of life, but we have, and continue now to walk in the path we believe God has led us...partners in ministry and partners in life. That is a journey I am privileged to make with her...that is a walk I am honored to take.

Thank you my dear for thirty years of blessing. As our walk together continues, I look forward to every step. And by the way, you really haven't changed a bit!

Jim Abernathy

Sacrifice and Gratitude

I drove onto the campus of the Walter Reed Medical Center this week and was confronted before I ever stepped into the hospital with a powerful portrait of sacrifice. As I made my way toward the parking garage, I drove alongside a line of soldiers, some accompanied by medical personnel, enjoying a late autumn sunny day. A closer look revealed that these young men weren't out for a casual stroll. Some limped with a cane, while others leaned on crutches, clung tightly to the leash of a guide dog, or rolled along the sidewalk in a wheelchair. As I pulled up to a stop sign, I yielded to a young man pushing his wheelchair through the cross walk, one leg missing, the other framed by rods and pins that externally held his broken leg in place. These were those commonly referred to today as "wounded warriors." I did not know their stories, but recognized that they were well acquainted with the concept of sacrifice.

Today is Veterans Day. It is a day that reminds us that we are debtors whose lives have been impacted by the sacrifices of men and women who serve this nation so faithfully. Such willingness to serve often goes unnoticed and is at times under-appreciated. One cannot know the history of this nation without recognizing the significance of service and sacrifice. For me, it was evident on the sidewalks of Walter Reed this week, yet, not limited to a generation of young men and women whose contemporary service uniquely marks them. They are the newest faces in an unfolding story of freedom that has been told over and over again for more than two centuries. The United States of America stands on a foundation of service and sacrifice that calls her citizens to recognize and appreciate the willingness of many who have given much in service to our country. So, take a moment today to thank a veteran or active-duty military person. Your act of gratitude will "serve" them well!

Jim Abernathy