Sunday (12/12)

In his first letter to the Thessalonians Paul wrote, “you received the message with joy from the Holy Spirit in spite of the severe suffering it brought you” (1 Thessalonians 1:6 NLT). “The message” Paul was referring to was the good news about Jesus Christ. Believing in and living in response to the gospel message led to suffering for many who converted to Christianity in the Roman Empire during the first century. Although our experience in America is different from the earliest Christians in regards to suffering because of persecution, becoming a follower of Christ does not make us exempt from suffering. Yet in the midst of our suffering, whatever the cause may be, we can experience “joy from the Holy Spirit.” One of the candles of the Advent wreath that we light each December is a reminder of the joy of Christ given to us from the Holy Spirit. You’re encouraged to receive the gifts of Advent and Christmas, made possible in and through Christ, with joy.

 

As we continue our journey towards Christmas and celebrating the birth of our Lord, this daily devotional for the third week of Advent is designed to help you focus on Jesus each day as you prioritize spending time with the One who is the source of hope, love, peace, and joy.

 

Monday (12/13)

To prepare your heart and mind to focus on Christ, read the hymn lyrics from “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” by Charles Wesley. Charles was one of the founders of the Methodist movement in England in the 1700s. He wrote and published more than 4,500 hymns.

 

Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

 

Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King;

born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;

by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.

 

Read John 1:1-5. Within the Bible verses, the gospel writer connects the creation story of Genesis chapter 1 with the beginning of this gospel account about Jesus. John explains that Jesus, described in these opening verses as “the Word,” was with God in the beginning when everything was created. He goes on to write that, “In Jesus was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:4 NIV).

 

How is the light of Christ shining in your midst this Advent season? Where have you seen, heard, or experienced hope, love, peace, or joy recently?

 

Prayer

Jesus, the Word of the Lord that became flesh and blood and dwelt among people, help the world you created to know you. Help us to understand you. Forgiven us for the times we have ignored you, as well as when we are too busy to focus on you. Thank you for the gift of today and the gift of life. I want to be as fully present with you now and as fully present with others as I am able. Remove the unnecessary distractions from my mind and life. However you want me involved in the pruning process so that I can become more focused on my Lord, use me. Guide me in sharing the hope, love, peace, and joy I have because of you with those who need it most today. In the Father, Son, and Spirit I pray. Amen.

 

 

Tuesday (12/14)

To center yourself in Christ, read part of the hymn lyrics from “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”:

 

Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

 

Read Luke 1:5-20. This took place during the time when Herod was king of Judea, about a year before Jesus was born. In the verses Luke shares the story of when an elderly priest named Zechariah was burning incense in the inner sanctuary of the Temple in Jerusalem and encountered an angel of the Lord named Gabriel. The angel revealed to the priest that, “your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John…he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born…And he will…make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:13-17 NIV).

 

If Jesus returned today, are you ready? What needs to change in your heart, mind, and life so that you are “prepared for the Lord”?

 

Prayer

God, thank you for listening to our prayers. You know what we need before we even ask you. Fill me, and believers throughout the world, with your Holy Spirit. Raise up people like John the Baptist in our day and time that bring back many people to you, God. This Advent season, enable hearts and minds to be ready to experience your goodness, hear the gospel message, and respond to the invitation to believe in Jesus. Prepare my heart as well. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

 

 

Wednesday (12/15)

To prepare your heart and mind to focus on Christ, read part of the hymn lyrics from “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”:

 

Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King;

born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;

by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.

 

Read Isaiah 11:1-9. The verses are a message about Christ that was revealed by God through the prophet Isaiah centuries before Jesus was born. Of all of the descriptions about Jesus in these verses, which one means the most to you today?

 

Prayer

Spirit of the living God, fill me with the knowledge of who you are as revealed

through Christ. Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me, and use me. Let Jesus’

kingdom come. Let your will be done in my life and here on earth as it is done in heaven. Amen.

 

 

Thursday (12/16)

To center yourself in Christ, read part of the hymn lyrics from “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”:

 

Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

 

Read Matthew 1:1-17, the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah. Matthew begins by pointing out that Jesus, the long awaited Messiah of the Jews, is a direct descendent of Abraham and King David. Throughout the Gospel According to Matthew the author connects Jesus to the Hebrew scriptures that we know of as the Old Testament of the Bible. Matthew wants the reader and hearer of the gospel to know that Jesus is the Messiah, the king the Israelites had been waiting for for nearly 1,000 years.

 

How many generations of people were there between Abraham and Jesus? Jesus fulfilled a promise given to Abraham about 2,000 years before Christ was born. What does that mean in regards to how long we might have to wait for the fulfillment of God’s promises?

 

Prayer

Jesus Messiah, your name is the name above all names. Blessed Redeemer, Emmanuel, you are the Rescuer of sinners, and the King of creation. Help me to trust in you like Abraham trusted in God. I submit to your reign over my life. Have your way, Lord. You are the Potter, and I am the clay. Mold me, make me, and shape me according to your will. Amen.

 

 

Friday (12/17)

To prepare your heart and mind to focus on Christ, read the hymn lyrics

from “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus”:

 

Come, thou long-expected Jesus, born to set thy people free;

from our fears and sins release us, let us find our rest in thee.

Israel’s strength and consolation, hope of all the earth thou art;

dear desire of every nation, joy of every longing heart.

 

Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King;

born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.

By thine own eternal spirit rule in all our hearts alone;

by thine all sufficient merit, raise us to thy glorious throne.

 

 

Read Luke 1:26-38. The gospel writer shares that, “In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendent of David. The virgin’s name was Mary” (Luke 1:26-27 NIV). Mary learns from the angel that she will become pregnant with a son conceived by the Holy Spirit, and he will be “the Son of God” (Luke 1:35).

 

Reread the verses from Luke focusing on Mary’s responses to the angel. What do Mary’s responses to Gabriel reveal about her?

 

Reread the verses one more time focusing on Gabriel’s words. What does the angel’s message reveal about Jesus?

 

Prayer

Holy One, I am awed by you. You take circumstances that seem to be less than ideal, yet you are able to use them for your holy purposes.

Let your will be fulfilled.

You send messengers to proclaim good news. Here I am, send me wherever you want me to go.

Let your will be fulfilled.

Jesus’ kingdom will never end. What an awesome truth to know and consider!

Let your will be fulfilled.

With you, Lord, the impossible is possible. Even a virgin can become pregnant

with the Son of the Most High.

Let your will be fulfilled.

I am trusting you with my circumstances and the situations I face. I need you with me now and always.

Let your will be fulfilled.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

 

 

Saturday (12/18)

How are you going to remember and observe the Sabbath this weekend? The sabbath is a day each week that is set apart from the others to worship God, rest, and enjoy life-giving recreation. You may need to begin by setting aside an hour on Saturday or Sunday to develop a new habit of observing the Sabbath. It might be helpful for you to incrementally observe the Sabbath by setting aside an increasing portion of a day each weekend until you are eventually able to worship, rest, and engage in living-giving recreation for an entire day each week.

 

Read Psalm 96, then join the psalmist in singing, praising, and rejoicing. You may find it helpful to sing a familiar hymn, Christmas carol, or contemporary Christian song.

 

Solitude & Silence. You are encouraged to find a place where you can quietly be alone for at least ten or fifteen minutes. During your time of solitude & silence with God, you may want to lay down, sit on a comfortable chair, couch, or swing, or go for a walk. During the solitude, silently listen for the internal whisper of the Holy Spirit. For many believers the Holy Spirit does not speak in an audible voice. Instead, the Spirit will place a thought, phrase, verse from scripture, song, image, person, or idea in your heart and mind. Notice the physical sounds you hear and the way your body feels during this time of silence. Try to shut out the thoughts of to-do lists, plans for the day, etc. Simply be with God. After the ten to fifteen minutes, then read the Bible verses listed below.

 

Read Exodus 31:13. What is the reason given by God for his commandment to “observe the Sabbath”? If you are unsure, read the verse again. It might even be helpful to read it from another Bible translation, such as the NRSV, NIV, NLT, or Living Bible. How can observing the Sabbath help us to be holy?

 

Pray in response to our Lord and King.

 

 

*If you do not have a Bible, consider downloading the YouVersion Bible App for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play for your smartphone or tablet. You can also use www.BibleGateway.com to look up and read various translations of Bible verses online.

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