December 23, 2020 - Advent Devotion
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Oh, come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
Oh come, ye,
Oh come, ye
To Bethlehem;
Come and behold him,
Born the King of angels
refrain:
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord!
“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.”
How does your schedule look today, for the next week? Do you have a few extra places to be, people to see, stops to make, things to get done? The season might look different this year in many ways, and yet, chances are we each still have a few things to make happen. How does it feel when you are asked to set aside what is comfortable, what you know best, and to honor what and who matters most?
Mary and Joseph left what they knew best, where they lived, where they were comfortable, who they knew best. Mary and Joseph came. They were so faithful. They came to Bethlehem, not just to answer the call of the government, but to answer the call of God.
I am told that if you and I were to visit Bethlehem today, and if we were to tour the site most scholars and most believers believe to be the place of Jesus' birth, we would need to get down on all fours and crawl through a small door way to enter the stable that held the manger. Most who visit say it is very humbling to come, crawling, bowed down.
This will be a sign for you: In the midst of all the places we are trying to get this season, in the midst of the invitations we are trying our best to safely honor and to answer as is possible, let us be like Mary and Joseph and leave what we know best, may we come and join the faithful. As we answer God's invitation to come and see and receive The Perfect Sign of God's grace, as we come to Bethlehem in our own humble ways this year, let us come and behold him, let us adore the One who so faithfully comes to us!
Let us pray: Today, Lord, faithfully come to me once again in the signs of your grace. Invite me again. By your Holy Spirit, humble me, renew my spirit to join the faithful and to leave what I know best so I come to you. In the midst of all the places I must go this time of year, I will faithfully come to you first. In your name I humbly come, bowing down as I pray. Amen.