December 5, 2022 - Advent Devotion
REWATCH! - The Second Sunday In Advent
Lighting of the Advent Wreath - The Bethlehem Candle
Be sure to check out the rewatch of yesterday’s service on YouTube!
Light One Candle to Watch for Messiah
Wold
Light two candles to watch for Messiah
Let the light banish darkness
He shall feed the flock like a shepherd
Gently lead them homeward.
“A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his root.”
As we enter the second week of Advent, we light the second candle, and our focus turns from prophecy to preparation; preparation for the purest celebration possible this Christmas, and preparation for Christ's return.
How long does it take you to get ready, to get prepared for Christmas? Do you make a plan, and work your plan, do you plan and plan, do you do a little here and there, or do you try to get it all done as quickly as possible?
How long do you think it took God to get ready for that first Christmas, for comfort and joy, for The Word to become flesh, for Emmanuel, God with us? Do you know God has everything planned from eternity, for eternity, including Christmas
Long ago the prophet Isaiah announced, "A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse." God announces here, just how prepared God is. Jesse was of the tribe of Judah. Jesse lived in Bethlehem. Jesse was David's dad. David would be King of Israel around 1000 B.C. Jesus, the Messiah, would be born in Bethlehem, from the house and lineage of David. God prepared for a long, long time, and a new shoot came forth, a new branch of comfort and joy grew out of Jesse.
May we trust if God is that diligent, that precise, that devoted, that committed to every part of his plan, may we indeed trust the Lord will get us ready to celebrate this Christmas, and to be ready for Christ's return. How much time does God need to get you ready? It does not matter! God gets done in God's time all God has planned!
Let us pray: God of perfect planning and preparation, I confess I do not do the greatest job of getting ready. Prepare me today, in your way and in your time, to receive the promised Messiah. I thank you and praise you for your faithfulness, putting into action the most extensive and detailed of plans to bring forth comfort and joy, to bring salvation to the world, to bring the Savior to my soul, to bring grace to my life. Amen.
