Devotional
Taking back Christmas
Isa 9:2, 6&7
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Taking back Christmas - Isa 9:2, 6&7

The People walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the lands of the shadow of death a light has dawned.  (Isa. 9:2 NIV)

 Norman Sawchuck and Rueben P. Job  in “A Guide to Prayer for all who seek God” write,

”Advent marks the beginning of the church year and lays before

us the pathway of faith for the year ahead.  Advent initiates

once again remembering, retelling, and celebrating the whole

drama of God's Revelation.

 
Four weeks is the limit to this season that declares the truth

about a God whose love and resourcefulness have no limits.

"Advent" has its roots in the Latin word "adventus," or

coming. This season proclaims the coming of Christ in the

Birth of Jesus, in the Word and Spirit, and in the final

victory when God's kingdom shall be complete.

 

Our privilege as Christians is to receive the gracious gift

of God's presence in Christ.  Our task is to prepare for His

Coming, so that we will not miss life's greatest gift.”

 
The Advent Season 2005 is upon us.  Already the rush and bustle of the season has begun.  We are busy preparing our gifts for family and friends as an expression of our love.  Christmas is a wonderful time of the year.

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The Advent Season focus on the gifts that Jesus brings to us.  We take back Christmas by celebrating the spiritual meaning of the event and discover anew the spiritual truth of the coming of Jesus into our world as God’s gift of love to us.  This year accept the gifts that Jesus brings and share His love with others.

 

Taking back Christmas must be intentional on our part.  It challenges us to rewrite our schedules to reflect the true meaning of the event.  As the year draws to a close, family schedules and personal agendas fill with engagements, programs, parties and annual obligations.  The carol “Silent Night” could not have been written at the end of the twentieth century.  The title evokes a peace and stillness we can only imagine.

 

To reclaim Christmas we need to draw close to God who became flesh and lived amongst us.  It is difficult to harmonize meditation and car pooling.  How do we carve out moments of quiet and worship and open ourselves to God’s Presence?  Perhaps we have to lower our sights from hours spent around hearths, Christmas trees, decorated halls and festivities to schedule quiet times when the family can sit together and contemplate what Christmas is all about.

 

The first theme of Advent is Hope.  It is the first gift that Jesus brings to us.  It is a bright light in a dark world. (Isa 9:2, 6&7)  We continue to hope in God’s promise that Christ will come again to fill our world with love, joy and peace.

 

Prayer

 

Heavenly Father, speak to my heart during this season as you spoke to your prophets.  Remind me again of the journey you call me to make and the work you would have me to do.

 

I am your servant, O Lord.  Speak to me in this holy season and turn my eyes to watch for your coming.

  

About the Author
 
Pastor Earl Batstone has pastored for more than forty years.  He retired as General Superintendent of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Nfld in 2002. He and his wife Lily are presently active in Short Term Missionary work. They reside in Paradise, Newfoundland and may be reached at: earlbatstone@nl.rogers.com

 

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Guidance

 

Deuteronomy 31:8

And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

 

Psalms 25:12

What man is he that feareth the LORD?  him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

 

Psalms 32:8

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

 

Psalms 37:23

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.

 

Psalms 48:14

For this God is our God for ever and ever: he will be our guide even unto death.

 

Psalms 73:24

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory

 

Isaiah 30:21

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

 

Isaiah 42:16

And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.

 

Isaiah 45:2

I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

 

Isaiah 49:10 

They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them.

 

Isaiah 58:11

And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

 

Jeremiah 10:23

LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

 

John 10:1-5

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.  But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.  To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.  And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.  And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

 

John 16:3

And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.

 

John 16:13 

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

 

Additional Scriptures;

Giving: Prov. 14:21;22:9;  Matt. 25:34-46;  Luke 21:1-4;  1Co.16:1, 2;  Gal. 6:9,10;  1 Tim. 6:17-19;  1John 3:16-18.

 

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