The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,
Thought for Today
Welcome to the season of Advent! We begin this week's devotional with God's inspired words to Isaiah. This was written sometime between 680-740 BC. Advent is a human term used to define this season, it's a time of preparation. What are you preparing for?
Martin Luther helps us here, he says: "The kingdom of Christ has been put in progress because it is placed in public view with its powers and gifts. Here one sees truth, pure doctrine, safety, peace; the Gospel is heard, and nothing can give greater joy. For it promises an abundance of things and salvation both here and hereafter, and a man stands safe in this Word against everything that opposes him, even against the gates of hell (Matt. 16:18). Behold, these virtues should influence the nations to make them come. They are proclaimed through the Word, namely that Christ is the King of mercy and of peace. Moses preaches the Law and is the minister of sin and death. Nobody runs to him. On the contrary, they are terrified. Christ, on the other hand, is the minister of righteousness, of life, and of peace. Therefore the people flow to Him just as water flows by its own effort and needs no one to push it"
What Dr. Luther is saying here is that Advent is a time to prepare for the season of Jesus Christ, starting with His arrival in human form, His earthly ministry and His promised return 'in the latter days'. So as we begin this Season of Advent, we look forward to celebrating Jesus' human birth, to continue into Lent, and to focus on these our 'latter of days'.
Prayer
Dear Father God,
Work within my heart to deepen my relationship with You. Help me to accept Your perfect plan for my life as You introduce me to my Redeemer King, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Devotional Quote
A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes - and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent.
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Quote of the Day
Into this world, this demented inn in which there is absolutely no room for him at all, Christ comes uninvited.
Welcome to Advent
Isaiah 2:1-2
The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord
shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it,
Thought for Today
Welcome to the season of Advent! We begin this week's devotional with God's inspired words to Isaiah. This was written sometime between 680-740 BC. Advent is a human term used to define this season, it's a time of preparation. What are you preparing for?
Martin Luther helps us here, he says: "The kingdom of Christ has been put in progress because it is placed in public view with its powers and gifts. Here one sees truth, pure doctrine, safety, peace; the Gospel is heard, and nothing can give greater joy. For it promises an abundance of things and salvation both here and hereafter, and a man stands safe in this Word against everything that opposes him, even against the gates of hell (Matt. 16:18). Behold, these virtues should influence the nations to make them come. They are proclaimed through the Word, namely that Christ is the King of mercy and of peace. Moses preaches the Law and is the minister of sin and death. Nobody runs to him. On the contrary, they are terrified. Christ, on the other hand, is the minister of righteousness, of life, and of peace. Therefore the people flow to Him just as water flows by its own effort and needs no one to push it"
What Dr. Luther is saying here is that Advent is a time to prepare for the season of Jesus Christ, starting with His arrival in human form, His earthly ministry and His promised return 'in the latter days'. So as we begin this Season of Advent, we look forward to celebrating Jesus' human birth, to continue into Lent, and to focus on these our 'latter of days'.
Prayer
Dear Father God,
Work within my heart to deepen my relationship with You. Help me to accept Your perfect plan for my life as You introduce me to my Redeemer King, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Devotional Quote
A prison cell, in which one waits, hopes - and is completely dependent on the fact that the door of freedom has to be opened from the outside, is not a bad picture of Advent.
― Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Quote of the Day
Into this world, this demented inn in which there is absolutely no room for him at all, Christ comes uninvited.
― Thomas Merton