Advent Devotional - December 15

December 15

I Peter 1:3-9

“…you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”

I Peter 3:8b

Lists are a big part of many people’s Christmas celebrations. Some have grocery lists for parties, some have lists of chores to do before company comes for the holidays, and of course, children have their lists of toys and goodies they are hoping will be under the tree Christmas morning. These lists are compiled with an end result in mind.

Peter wrote to first century Christians who faced great difficulty because of their faith. These were not the raised eyebrows of disapproving neighbors or simple public debates over the merits of the Christian faith. Paul wrote to a people who faced genuine hardship, persecution, and death because they were followers of Jesus Christ. He reminded them that there was an end result in mind, even in the midst of their hardship. In fact, this end result, the salvation of their souls was already occurring. Even though they had not seen him, they believed, trusting themselves into the hands of God. As a result, they were filled with “an inexpressible and glorious joy.”

Advent reminds us of Bethlehem and the incarnation of Christ. It also reminds us that Christ will come again. No, we don’t have lists made whose items are arbitrarily checked off as completed, but as we believe and follow the way of Christ, we are receiving the end result of that faith…the salvation of our souls. That good news should fill us with an inexpressible and glorious joy!

Prayer: Gracious God, remind us in these days of Advent that by faith in the Christ of Bethlehem, we are receiving the end result of our faith, the salvation of our souls. Amen.

Jim Abernathy