With all the noise in the world, do you hear the voice of God? Your calendar tells you what to do, but do you remember who you are? Being comes before doing. This is a call to put first things first. Return to the Lord with this daily pattern of prayer and devotion. Set aside this time as a sanctuary. Find a space free of distraction and follow this pattern.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invocation
Make the sign of the cross, and say,
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation Prayer
If you have an advent wreath, light the first candle and pray:
Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. The light no darkness can overcome.
Jesus, open our eyes to your light and our ears to your words of hope. Come, O long-expected Jesus. Our hope is in you. Amen.
Word: Matthew 12:18-21
Behold, my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles. He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench until he brings justice to victory; and in his name the Gentiles will hope.
Meditation
For many countries around the world, December 6th is a special holiday known as St. Nick’s Day (originally celebrated in Europe as the Feast Day of Saint Nicholas). On the evening of December 5th, children place their shoes outside their doors or on their windowsills and head off to bed. They eagerly await the arrival of St. Nicholas, who will fill their shoes with candy and treats as they sleep — if they have been well-behaved since his last visit. This tradition is not unlike the secularized hanging of stockings on Christmas Eve to be filled by Santa Claus. However, just like naughty children are told they will receive coal in their stocking, St. Nick’s Day traditions hold that bad behavior is rewarded only with a rod left instead of candy, meant to be used for discipline by the child’s parents.
While this holiday is meant to be celebrated lightheartedly, it carries a certain dangerous teaching: good behavior earns good rewards, and bad behavior earns punishment. This is not an uncommon teaching in our culture year-round, and, in terms of the justice system and civil behavior, it is generally true. We expect to be repaid in full for our good works and punished for our wrongdoings in the earthly kingdom. In the kingdom of God, however, we are taught something different.
As Charles Wesley writes, “Come, Thou long expected Jesus / Born to set Thy people free” he reminds us of the simple truth of the Gospel. Jesus came into our world specifically for the sake of freeing us from our sin. Just like the children wait expectantly for St. Nick to bring them candy, the world waited expectantly for the coming Messiah. And now, we wait expectantly for His return. His grace is not given like candy to the well behaved, but freely to all who believe in Him. His rod is not one that comes down to punish, but one that comes to comfort. His Spirit reigns in us forever. Not by any merit of our own, but by His, we are raised to His glorious throne.
Prayer for the Church
– For my local congregation, my brothers and sisters in Christ.
– For Christians across my community and city.
– For my denomination or church body.
– For repentance where God’s people have failed or erred.
– For the mission of God given to his people, that all nations know Him.
– For the church where she is persecuted for Christ’s name.
– For church plants and mission frontiers.
– For workers in the harvest: pastors, teachers, evangelists, servants.
– For the everyday, ordinary Christian to serve and witness as the priesthood of all believers.
– For the small, overlooked, and undervalued parts of the body of Christ.
Closing Prayer
Lord God, as the church waits eagerly for the triumphant return of your son Jesus, may we love and serve others in our waiting and so reflect the light of the coming King. Amen!