Scripture – Luke 22:1–13 Why is one of the last chapters of Luke one of the first readings for Advent? Why is a story about preparations for the Last Supper at the beginning of our expectation for Christ’s birth? The…
Read more »Scripture – Isaiah 6:1–13 Finding himself unemployed, Suriya spent three days in prayer, asking for God’s direction. Then, like Isaiah, he received a vision he didn’t expect and a mission for which he felt inadequate. Yet, like Isaiah, he ultimately…
Read more »Scripture – 1 Thessalonians 5:12–28 I gained a greater appreciation for Mary during two Advent seasons when I was either on maternity leave or pregnant. Sleep deprivation and morning sickness made it easy to empathize with Mary. Although to us…
Read more »Thanks to the Ministerio de Vida Abundante de la Iglesia Presbiteriana en Puerto Nuevo, San Juan de Puerto Rico for providing a Spanish translation of the Advent devotions on their blog.
Read more »Scripture – Luke 21:20–28 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 Luke paints a picture of the Son of Man returning in the midst of disturbances that are military, ecological, and astrological. This scene is in tension with the epistle lesson comparing the…
Read more »Scripture – Romans 15:4–13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13) There was a point in my…
Read more »Scripture – Psalm 90 Advent leads home to Emmanuel (God-with-us). The birth of Jesus announced to shepherds, and the baptism of the Word made flesh by John in the muddy Jordan River among repentant throngs, show that God is with…
Read more »Scripture – Psalm 102 “Let this be recorded for a generation to come, so that people yet unborn may praise the LORD.” (Psalm 102:18) Many of us know some variation of the proverb “The true meaning of life is to…
Read more »Scripture – 1 Thessalonians 3:1–13 “We sent Timothy . . . to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith, so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions.” (1 Thessalonians 3:2–3) I remember reading Peacemaking: The…
Read more »Scripture – Isaiah 2:1–4 Isaiah’s vision in the early chapters of his book is mostly of the punishment of Judah and Jerusalem. Judah is to be destroyed because the nation is corrupt; pride and wealth have distorted the nation God…
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