Ninth Day of Advent

 

Monday, December 7, 2020

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:
An Advent Devotional Guide

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. . . . There is one body and one Spirit – just as you were called to one hope when you were called.”
Ephesians 4:3, 6

Isn’t it funny that no matter how old we get, Christmas influences our feelings! I know there are still some Scrooges around who “Bah humbug” Christmas, but in general we get warm fuzzy feelings as the holiday approaches. People smile more, they put their dollars in a red kettle for people they don’t even know; they decorate trees with dolls for little girls whose eyes they’ll not see sparkle when they get them; they buy turkeys for families around whose tables they will not sit. 

The baby Jesus’ birthday – not even Jesus, just his birthday – makes us gentler, more patient, even kinder. Paul’s words remind us that Christians are part of a body and should function in a kind of unity, but Christmas tends to even change our attitude and actions toward those that are just part of the human race – not even art of the Body of Christ -- people whom we may be totally unaware of the rest of the year! A little baby changes how we treat each other.

Father, Humility and patience with others are such lovely characteristics. Help us to exhibit them all year, not just at Christmas when we think of Jesus. Amen.

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:
An Advent Devotional Guide
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Winter 2010
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator

Eighth Day of Advent

 Sunday, December 6, 2020

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:
An Advent Devotional Guide

 

“Now to Him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him….”
Romans 16:25-26 

Do we consider that we are “established” by a “mystery?” Down through the ages, God has been promising through the prophets that He was going to send the Messiah, an event so shrouded in mystery that no one really comprehended what the Messiah would be like! Today that mystery prevails, and often without understanding we are established in it.

As I write, I am sitting in a cardiac care waiting room, and next to me a family waits for news of a loved one. As each additional family member joins the clan, I hear them say that they are trusting Jesus as a precious life hangs in the balance. They join hands and pray to the Lord whose birthday we will soon celebrate. In the hour or so that I have waited here, I’ve seen how strong this family is because they are “established” in the “mystery” of who their Lord is! They cry a little but they are not tears of despair.

Paul wrote of this mystery in the first century. The people near me are still trusting that Mystery.

Father, We continue to praise you for your Holy Presence in a baby, even though we don’t fully understand. Amen.

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:
An Advent Devotional Guide
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Winter 2010
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator

 

 

Seventh Day of Advent

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:
An Advent Devotional Guide

“For although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth . . . yet for us there is one God, the Father from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ."
I Corinthians 8:5-6a

Knowing who one’s god is has a huge impact on how that person lives, on what he focuses his attention. A young friend brought his new, bright red Corvette to show me. He said he wanted to take good care of it, so he parked a long way away from crowds. If he couldn’t he’d shop at another mall or eat at a different restaurant. Protecting his prize against dings!

Later when I saw him at a restaurant I commented that I had not seen his car outside. He explained that he had sold the car. “It was all I thought about,” he said. “It had become my god!”

Paul reminds us that there are indeed other gods, and we must carefully choose the one whom we will serve. Unexpected things grab our attention and easily become too important. We must serve only One God. God came as a baby, but in that tiny infant dwelt the Triune God, the same one who warned that we should “have no other god” before Him! He doesn’t look very “godlike” in our little creches, but we know He is indeed the great I AM.

Father, Forgive us that we often focus our love and commitment on someone or something other than you! Help us to recognize you, even as a baby. Amen.

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:

An Advent Devotional Guide
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Winter 2010
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator

 

 

 

Sixth Day of Advent 2020

Friday, December 4, 2020

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:
An Advent Devotional Guide

“And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ."
Ephesians 1:9-10

Just when I think things can get no worse, I pick up the morning paper and find that another group is trying to establish a “new world order,” a uniting of all the countries of the world under one leader with one language and one monetary system! I usually smile indulgently, wishing I could tell them that they are wasting their time. Oh, it is going to happen, but they won’t bring it to pass.

Jesus came the first time as an infant, but he promises to return as the world’s “one head” – when, we don’t know. Every generation has anticipated that return since Jesus went back to heaven. In some wonderful, mysterious way, when all is just right, Paul says in Ephesians, Jesus is coming again.

The first time he came innocently as an infant, and most didn’t recognize him, though he’d told them over and over. This time he’ll come as ruler over all! Most were surprised the first time. Will we be the second?

Father, Cause us to look with anticipation to your second coming, to relish the idea of your kingdom, to be ready to meet you when you arrive without fear and with joy. Amen. 

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:
An Advent Devotional Guide
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Winter 2010
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator

Fifth Day of Advent 2020

 Thursday, December 3, 2020

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:

An Advent Devotional Guide

“But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; . . . Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
I Corinthians 2:7, 9 

We enjoy little mysteries, the anticipation of new experiences – a birthday party, a trip to some new spot, a visit from an old friend. Well, the God who made us realizes this, and the Scriptures tell us He has surprises we can never imagine! The verses above tell us not to waste time trying to imagine because His mysteries are beyond anything we have ever seen or heard.

We enjoy our present relationship with God, the prayer time, the new things He shows us in His Word, the surprises He has in store for us each day. But what we know now is nothing compared to what we’ll know when this phase of life is over, and we see Him face to face! We cannot imagine light coming directly from Him! We can’t contemplate no more wondering, just clear understanding of life’s mysteries!

The knowledge and wisdom of God are beyond us, and He understands that, but He promises someday we’ll know His secrets. Christ has given us much, but there is much more to come!  

Father, your mysteries are like presents under the Christmas tree, and we thank you for each revelation. Amen.

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:
An Advent Devotional Guide
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Winter 2010
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator

 

 

Fourth Day of Advent 2020

Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:
An Advent Devotional Guide

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets . . . in these last days has spoken to us in [by] His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”
Hebrews 1:1 

Often I hear the sadness in God’s voice, and I’m reminded of earthly parents – how hard we try to get our children to listen to us about things we know are important to their lives. Education, health, goals, spiritual well-being. They often don’t listen, but neither do we! They to us and we to God!

“I told you through the prophets, through ancestors,” He says. “Now I am telling you through Jesus!”

So what does He want so desperately for us to hear? What is He speaking now? Is He telling us there is nothing to worry about because He has sent His Son to restore us to the Father? That everything needed to re-establish our broken relationship to Him has been accomplished in Christ Jesus? That even the angels recognize that He is worthy of praise? That He has sent “ministering spirits” to care for those who love Him? The infant-become-man is now in charge! Is that what He is trying to get us to hear? Is that this year’s Christmas present? Greater understanding? 

Father, we are self-willed, determined to go our own way! Cause us to listen to your voice, to obey your word. Help us not to grieve you or to resist your Son’s authority in our lives. Amen. 

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:
An Advent Devotional Guide
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Winter 2010
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator

The Third Day of Advent 2020

    Tuesday, December 1, 2020
Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:
An Advent Devotional Guide

“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been created by Him and for Him.”
Colossians 1:16

This passage contains more than we can talk about here, so let’s just concentrate on five words.

According to Paul everything was made “by Him and for Him.” Everything? Insignificant little Israel, a tiny piece of land over which men have fought for generations? Bethlehem, of even less importance? A stable for animals? A star at exactly the right time to indicate His birth and identify the place? Oh, I know that many say planets converged, but that’s okay! The miracle is that all took place at precisely the correct time to guide seekers to the right country, village, stable and manger! Poor shepherds, rich kings, and wise men found the baby that would change the world!

The miracle is that in the “council of the ages” the plan originated and in creation the conceived plan became reality, all planned “by Him and for Him.”

Caesar Augustus thought it was his idea to demand a census, but actually it was God’s way of moving Mary and Joseph to the place prepared for Jesus’ birth. Amazing!

Father, we often think so superficially! Forgive us! Help us recognize the vastness of your plan! Amen. 

Tell Me About the Christmas Baby:
An Advent Devotional Guide
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Winter 2010
by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator