Advent Devotional, December 7

II Peter 3:11-18

 

“…what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness,

 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God… in accordance with his promise,

we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.”

                                                                                                                   (II Peter 3:11b, 13)

 

Early Christians anticipated the return of Christ at any moment.  Peter asks in our text today how believers should conduct themselves in the interim.  It’s a great question for contemporary believers as well, for we too should live in anticipation of the return of Christ.  Our waiting should reflect a holiness and godliness that is attributable to the Savior whose incarnation opened the door to this new heaven and new earth that Peter mentions in our text. 

 

It is interesting to note here that Peter mentions a characteristic of faith that is to be present now and throughout eternity…righteousness.  I like the way he characterizes the living of that faith… “where righteousness is at home.” 

 

Here is a powerful question for us as we mark the days of Advent in preparation for the coming Christ. What sort of person should you and I be in anticipation of  the coming Christ…a person where righteousness is at home.

 

Prayer:  Soon-coming Christ, we invite you to come into our hearts anew and find there a place where righteousness is at home. Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional, December 6

Psalm 116:12-19

 

“What shall I return to the Lord for all his bounty to me?”

I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord”

                                                                                          (Psalm 116:12-13)

 

Sometimes, when we give gifts to people year after year after year, we begin to run out of ideas.  Sometimes, as we mature, when asked about what we would like for Christmas or a birthday present, we begin to realize that there are really very few things we need. Sometimes, in frustration over what to give someone, we wonder, “What do you get the person who has everything?”

 

The Psalmist wonders aloud in verse 12 of today’s text at what he can give to the Lord as repayment for unnumbered blessings.  Gospel singer Andre Crouch wondered the same thing several decades ago when he composed a song entitled, “My Tribute.”  He wrote, “How can I say thanks, for the things you have done for me? Things so undeserved, yet you give to prove your love for me. The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude.  All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee.”

 

The Psalmist concludes that relationship is the most significant gift he can share with the Creator God.  He will lift the cup of salvation and call on the Lord.  He recognizes that he cannot outgive God, but he can be faithful to honor the Lord.  Crouch simply concludes in the chorus of his song, “To God be the glory, for the things He has done.” 

 

Yesterday I spoke of giving God your heart, the gift of yourself.  In doing that, let us realize that what we are truly offering the One who has made us in the image of the Divine and whose gift in Bethlehem is indeed our cup of salvation, is the gift of praise.  To God be the glory, for the things He has done!

 

Prayer: Creator God, recreating still through the gift of your Son, Jesus Christ, I cannot outgive you.  But I can offer myself as a gift of praise to you. All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee. Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy

Maturity

A Blessed Friday Morning to You!

 

As I shared at his memorial service earlier this week, George Stone was a man of persistent consistency.  He rarely strayed from his routines, finding comfort in the ordered life he worked hard to preserve.  His commitment to his family, his country, and his faith were exemplary in many ways.  When I asked George from time to time how he has doing, his answer was always the same; "Not bad for a mature man."  Maturity is a worthy goal for all of us.  Certainly it is enviable in the context of longevity, living a long and fruitful life.  But it isn't just the years that mark a life as meaningful; it is also the quality of that life, the commitment one makes to learn and grow and make a difference.

 

The apostle Paul spoke of maturity as the goal for those who follow Christ.  He wrote in Ephesians 4:13, "God’s goal is for us to become mature adults—to be fully grown, measured by the standard of the fullness of Christ." Those are good words for us on this chilly, damp December morning.  The standard of Christ has been set before us...let us strive toward that goal of maturity in Christ.

 

Sunday will bring a wonderful day of Advent worship and celebration.  I look forward to seeing you then.

 

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional, December 5

Luke 21:1-4

 

“…all of them have contributed out of their abundance,

but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

                                                                                              (Luke 21:4)

 

Today’s scripture passage is often quoted in the context of stewardship, particularly pertaining to the attitude with which one gives.  Scripture tells us that God loves a cheerful giver, speaking more to the quality of the heart than the expense of the gift.

 

How might that apply to our gift giving at Christmas?  Set aside the significance of how much you spend and consider the quality of your heart in giving.  That begins with what you offer God.  The woman in Jesus’ story gave out of her poverty.  I don’t think Jesus was as focused on how much she gave as he was on the poverty of spirit that moved her to make the gift.  In Matthew 5:4 he said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Kingdom living, it would then seem, is built more on the humble gift of self than the ostentatious display.

 

Christina Rosetti’s powerful text in pondering her gift to the Christ child reminds us of this truth.  She writes, “What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man, I would do my part; Yes what can I give Him? Give him my heart.”  As you contemplate your gift to God during this Advent and Christmas season, the best gift you can offer…the best place to begin, is to give him your heart.

 

Prayer:  Gracious God, I give my heart to you.  Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional, December 4

Psalm 18:27-30

 

“It is you who light my lamp;
    the Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.”

                                                                (Psalm 18:28)

 

The Psalmist writes in praise for deliverance he attributes to the hand of God.  His petition is heard in verse 6 of this 18^th chapter as he writes, “In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help.” The response is seen in verse 16, “He reached down from on high, he took me; he drew me out of mighty waters.”   

 

From the Garden, to the wilderness wanderings, to the cross, God has been at work to offer deliverance to a fallen, sinful human creation.  The darkness of human sin is overcome by the One who lights our lamp, the One whose word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. 

 

During these December days, the darkness seems to crowd out the light with each passing day.  As I sit in our family room, the lights from the candles in the windows and the Christmas tree in the corner of the room cut through the darkness.  These special lights of the season remind me that God’s great gift of deliverance, born in Bethlehem, indeed lights up my darkness.

 

Prayer: Come again, Lord Jesus, and light my lamp. Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional, December 3

Isaiah 2:1-4

 

“He shall judge between the nations, and shall arbitrate

for many peoples; they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
    and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword

against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore”

                                                                                     (Isaiah 2:4)

 

Christmas traditions are often made up of fanciful stories, from flying reindeer to talking snowmen, from literary works like “A Christmas Carol” to classic movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life,”  to songs of the season like “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.”  These fanciful stories are often created for children, though adults appreciate them too for bringing out their “inner child.”

 

Unfortunately, the stories of scripture are sometimes looked at in a similar way by some who see them beyond reason and common sense.  Faith is vital to embracing the truths of scripture, trusting that God is at work in the midst of the stories that fill the Bible’s pages.  Some might see the text above as example of a fanciful perspective of scripture…beating swords into plowshares; spears into pruning hooks; nations not lifting up weapons against each other; not learning war anymore.  Sounds too good to be true doesn’t it?

 

Certainly Isaiah’s vision is of a time to come, but could human beings refuse to make war against one another?  Could we refuse to learn war anymore?  How would our world be different if such refusals were embraced…beginning with you and me?  That’s a great Advent question to ponder.

 

Prayer: Prince of Peace, fill our hearts with the wonder of Christmas...peace on earth. Amen,

 

Jim Abernathy

Advent Devotional, December 2

Psalm 10

 

“Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?
    Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”

                                                                         (Psalm 10:1)

 

The story of ancient Israel is a story of waiting with deliverance as a continuing theme. From the wilderness wanderings to the isolation of exile, the people were waiting, anticipating rescue from God.

 

When Mary and Joseph made their way to Bethlehem, they were making the trip to participate in a census required by the Roman government.  The people cried out for deliverance from their Roman oppressors, but that deliverance seemed so far away.  No one could have imagined that deliverance would be born in a stable in Bethlehem, and yet, God provided.

 

Sometimes, God seems far off. Deliverance is hard to imagine, and yet, the faithfulness of God is assured in the gift of Christmas…God becoming flesh and dwelling among us.   Good news for those who wait!

 

Prayer: We wait, Lord, yet, deliverance has already come.  May we live in that assurance today.  Amen.

 

Jim Abernathy