Advent Devotional, December 14

Psalm 44:1-3

 

"We have heard with our ears, O God, our ancestors have told us,
what deeds you performed in their days, in the days of old...":

                                                                    (Psalm 44:1)

 

You learn a great deal about people from the stories they tell. Sometimes these stories are about family members, co-workers, neighbors or classmates.  And sometimes people tell the best stories about themselves.  The Psalmist celebrates the storytelling of his ancestors which has become a bridge that has spanned the centuries of God's continuing faithfulness. His words would not have been mass produced in written form but would become part of the oral tradition as stories were told from one person to another, one generation to another.

 

We have little appreciation for this oral tradition today.  Stories are written in many forms from newspapers to books to email, text, and twitter.  We view these stories on the nightly news, Internet, and on our own personal smart devices.  Maybe I am a little old-fashioned, but I still prefer to hear stories told from person to person...to know the source and see how his or her life has been changed as a result.

 

Luke tells us that after the shepherds traveled to Bethlehem in response to the angels good news, "they made known what had been told them about this child; and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them."  The good news of God's persistent love, told through the voices of countless generations, still makes a difference today.  That was true for the Psalmist.  It was true for the shepherds.  It is also true for you and me.

 

As the old gospel hymn says, "Keep telling the story, be faithful and true. Let others see Jesus in you."

 

Prayer: The story of your love has been told from generation to generation, Lord.  Help me be a faithful storyteller of the good news of Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional, December 13

Philippians 4:4-7

 

^"Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. The Lord is near."

                                                                                            (Philippians 4:5)

 

Writing to the church in Phillipi, Paul encouraged these new believers to embrace a standard of faith that would mark their uniqueness in Christ.  Certainly there were those within the Jerusalem church that wanted Paul to lead these converts to conform to ancient practice and tradition, but that is not what he asked them to do.  Perhaps there were some who believed that threats of persecution should be rebuffed and the faith vigorously defended, but that is not what Paul encouraged. Surely there were those who thought theological and ideological uniformity were key to the survival of the church, but no, Paul had something different in mind. "Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people."   Paul shared something that twenty-first century Christians would do well to remember, and better still, practice; the way you treat others goes a long way toward communicating the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

 

A skeptical world has grown weary of the church's blind adherence to listless traditions. They tune out the constant complaints of Christians who claim to be threatened by mochas and lattes offered in undecorated cups by servers who offer non-specific holiday greetings. They shake their heads in disbelief at the qualities of Christ-like character held forth that speak less of grace and mercy and more of isolation and blatant prejudice.  In the midst of such skepticism, Paul's words offer challenge to the church and hope to the world.  "Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. The Lord is near."   

 

Show them Jesus, for he is near...in you.

 

Prayer: Be near, Lord Jesus, in my words and actions, that your gentleness will be heard and seen. Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy    

Advent Devotional, December 12

Psalm 32:1-5

 

"Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
    whose sin is covered. Happy are those to whom the Lord

imputes no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit."

                                                                     (Psalm 32:1-2)

 

Guilt is a heavy burden we humans carry.  The late American humorist, Erma Bombeck spoke of guilt as the gift that keeps on giving.  We are wounded by guilt, not just in the moment or immediate aftermath of some failure on our part, but we can also become captive to its destruction months, even years down the road.  Perhaps that is why the Psalmist speaks of happiness in response to the act of forgiveness...to be set free by grace in any form is truly a liberating experience.

 

Of all the things that Christmas has become in this twenty-first century, nothing rivals the great good news that the Creator of the world has offered the gift of forgiveness through the birth of Jesus.  While we chase after and are distracted by the sights and sounds and smells and tastes of our various celebrations, let us not forget that true joy is found in the blessing of forgiveness...the covering of sin...release from the heavy burden of guilt.

 

Prayer: God of grace, who covers our sin through the gift of the Christ child, we rejoice in sins forgiven and burdens released. Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy 

 

 

Advent Devotional, December 11

Proverbs 3:31-32

 

"Do not envy the violent and do not choose any of their ways;
for the perverse are an abomination to the Lord,
    but the upright are in his confidence."

                                (Proverbs 3:31-32)

 

Anger and fear have the potential to transform otherwise decent people into the monsters that threaten them.  The wise writer of Proverbs understands this and encourages his listeners to consider a better path. The Amplified Bible challenges the reader, in its translation of this text, to resist choosing the ways of the wicked, and instead, live with spiritual integrity and moral courage.  In the heat of the moment, retaliation seems to vindicate, but in the end, it satisfies little.

 

Spiritual integrity and moral courage may not satisfy the angry in the midst of life's cruel realities, but they position one to be taken into the confidence of God, or as the Common English Bible says, to become a close friend of God.  Given the choice of a momentary rush of retaliation or the eternal hope of friendship with the Almighty, we would do well to choose the latter. That is perhaps a good thing to keep in mind as the angry rhetoric ebbs and flows in our nation these days.

 

Prayer: Gracious God, may your wisdom rule within our hearts, that we may value friendship with you more than angry words and actions. This we pray in the name of Him who is known to us as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace...Jesus, the Christ. Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy  

 

 

Advent Devotional, December 10

Philippians 2:1-11

 

.""Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 

  Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others."

                                                                                                (Philippians 2:3-4)

 

One can easily become self-absorbed in a culture that constantly touts the rights and privileges of the individual.  To view another with contempt because he or she is different in some way is to reject Paul's call to Christlikeness.  In embracing the mind of Christ, we embrace others as they are, not as we want them to be.  Nationality, race, gender, sexuality, religion...these are not litmus test issues to be used in making judgments about who is worthy or not, who is acceptable or not, or who is welcome or not. "...in humility regard others as better than yourselves." 

 

It would seem to me that if the mind of Christ centers around humility and servanthood, and we who claim to follow him are challenged to have that same mind, then our world view must be different.  The Message translation powerfully states this in verse 8 as it says of Jesus, "He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life..."  We see this in the circumstances of his birth and the manner in which he later lived and taught. As he said in Matthew 21, "whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve..."

 

Perhaps, in this Advent season, we would do well to rediscover the mind of Christ, and in doing so, consider anew how we are then to view the world.

 

Prayer:  Dear Jesus, love of God, Incarnate, please forgive my arrogant, self-centered ways, and teach me once more the way of the servant, from the stable of Bethlehem to the cross of Calvary. Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy 

 

 

Advent Devotional, December 9

Luke 1:5-20

“Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard.

Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John.

You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth…”

                                                                                   (Luke 1:13b-14)

I’m not sure that starting a conversation with “Don’t be afraid,” is such a good idea. I suppose it’s a great way to get someone’s attention, but if you have to say it, chances are the person you’re trying to reassure is already hanging on the edge.   

The New Revised Standard Version says that Zechariah was “terrified…fear overwhelmed him.”  How does one recover from overwhelming fear?  The angel doesn’t really give Zechariah much opportunity to do so as he immediately follows his greeting with news that may have frightened Zechariah even more.  The news that his wife, Elizabeth, would conceive and bear a son, filled with the Holy Spirit who would lead a sinful people back to the Lord, would certainly have made me shake in my sandals. It’s no wonder Zechariah questioned the angel’s news.

I have always appreciated Zechariah for his vulnerability and his honesty. Fear and doubt at times accompany the call of God.  We may not be struck dumb like Zechariah, but responding to the call of God can easily leave one humbled and amazed…perhaps even speechless.  But God equips those God calls…even the uncertain, reluctant ones…like me, and perhaps, you.

Prayer: Use me, Lord, even in my doubt and fear. Amen.

Jim Abernathy

 

Advent Devotional, December 8

Psalm 37:23-24

 

"Our steps are made firm by the Lord,
    when he delights in our way;  though we stumble, 

we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us  by the hand."

 

Presence is vital to relationship.  One can stay connected by email or text, even see the face of a friend or loved one by Skype, but all are poor substitutes for presence.  

 

The story of Christmas is a story of presence; God becoming one of us in Jesus. Before the incarnation, however, the Spirit of God was at work in ways that often spoke of presence.  The imagery of today's text illustrates this as the Psalmist's steps are made secure in knowing that even if he stumbles, God will be with him, holding his hand.

 

We walk in places that are uneven, places where disappointment, worry, and fear can easily cause us to stumble.  Yet, there is the calm assurance that God walks with us, holding us by the hand.  Skinned knees, sore ankles, stubbed toes...yes, but falling headlong into the abyss of hopelessness; no, the Lord holds us by the hand.      

 

Prayer: When my way grows drear precious Lord linger near; when my life is almost gone. Hear my cry, hear my call, hold my hand lest I fall. Take my hand precious Lord, lead me home. (Precious Lord, Take My Hand...Thomas Dorsey)