The Second Day of Advent

Monday, December 2, 2019

The Wonder of What God Has Done Through His Son:

An Advent Devotional Guide

“They are a perverse generation, sons in whom is no faithfulness. They have made me jealous with what is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their idols.” Deuteronomy 32:20

Moses knows he is about to die. He remembers what the Israelites did when he was on the mountain getting the law. God had just brought them miraculously from Egypt, yet as soon as Moses wasn’t present, their faith waned. They took the gold they had brought with them and melted it down to make a cow! Worshiping a cow! Moses knew the Israelites very well!

Now he speaks to them one last time; he tells them that God is a jealous God. He reminds them that God is gravely hurt and angered by their worshiping something that “is not God.”

We don’t hear much today about God’s anger. And we certainly do not hear about the grief we cause, how we hurt him! But we hear it in this verse, and if you read the subsequent verses, I think we’ll agree we want to avoid both his wrath and causing him pain.

When I saw this verse I couldn’t help wondering if our faith wanes during this season. Do we become so involved in planning for gifts and food that we forget all the amazing things God has done for us throughout the year? Do we fail to devote ourselves to worshiping the infant so miraculously born to Mary? Are we soon caught up in a commercial whirlwind, spending money on things for people who probably won’t even like what we have chosen for them! Do we slip into a secular Christmas mode, forgetting faith, making God jealous because we are focusing on what “is not God?”

Father, forgive us for giving attention to tinsel and lights instead of your Son! We criticize the Israelites who forgot so quickly, but how like them we are! Help us to keep our eyes on you and help us not to grieve and anger you! Amen

The Wonder of What God Has Done Through His Son:

An Advent Devotional Guide
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Winter 2009
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator

The First Day of Advent

Sunday, December 1, 2019

The Wonder of What God Has Done Through His Son:

An Advent Devotional Guide

“Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4

This verse is the one that Martin Luther said “pierced his heart.” Habakkuk was a contemporary of Daniel; both were prophets in the time of the Jewish exile in Babylonia. It was a long, long exile. They had no place to worship, no rabbis, no temple, no family with whom to worship, and yet even in despair they did not give up what they knew to be true: Almighty God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was their God and they would worship no other.

This little short book, only three chapters, tells much about God. It won’t take you but a few minutes to read it, but if you spend an hour or so, you’ll be surprised at what you learn about God from the conversation that he and Habakkuk have!

God is always there, listening as we cry to him. He has a plan, and he moves patiently to execute it. He uses the most unusual people to accomplish what he wants. He does not tolerate idolatry. He has no patience with those who use their circumstances for gain at the expense of others. He’ll let us get a glimpse of his majesty if we earnestly seek him. He gives strength to those who allow him free reign in their lives. It’s all there in beautiful poetry.

And so as we move into this holy season of the Church year, we move in faith, aware that our Holy God has plans for us and that our Christian education is a life-long learning. We may not understand all that we see, hear or read. But we can understand our great God and can in faith entrust not just our Christmas season but our lives to him daily!

Father, please remove our misconceptions about you and give our faith a freshness as we know you better during this holy season! Amen

The Wonder of What God Has Done Through His Son:

An Advent Devotional Guide
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Winter 2009
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator