Advent 2005 Devotional

Before we start the devotional, let's understand the historical development of Christmas and Advent. Since Advent is a much later development, we will explore first the origin and meaning of Christmas, the second most holy day in the Christian liturgical calendar. This calendar (established at a time when people did not have readily available written materials or could not read) traces the events of Christ’s life and other historical church events and personages as a means to inform people of how and what it means to live in and for Christ to experience salvation.

Christianity speaks of the birth of Christ as the Incarnation from the Latin incarnatio, meaning in the flesh, (by synecdoche flesh means human nature or man) thus God in human form. Both Latin and Greek writers used other terms to describe this event. Some are: (1) John 1:14, Word (Logos) was made flesh; (2) Nicene Creed, the act of becoming man; (3) from NRSV Scripture: (a) Phil 2:7; "Emptied himself . . . being born in human likeness," (b) 2Tim 1:10 "Revealed through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus", (c) Heb 2:17 "He had to become like his brothers and sisters in every aspect," (d) Heb 10:5 "But a body you have prepared for me."^1,2

The actual day of Christ’s birth is unknown. There is a tradition of Christ’s birth being celebrated since 98 CE on an unknown date.³ In 137 CE the Bishop of Rome declared the remembrance of Christ’s birth a solemn feast. The Roman Catholic Church in 350 CE set December 25^th as Christmas Day.³ The earliest date for Dec 25^th is 336 CE.⁴ This date was probably chosen because the people, although forbidden to observe, were reluctant to give up the festivities associated with two festivals celebrated on December 25^th; the natalis solis invicti (the Roman "birth of the unconquered sun"), and the birthday of Mithras (the Mesopotamian "Sun of Righteousness").^5,6

Christian churches that follow the "Old Style" Julian calendar of 325 CE celebrate Christmas on the civil or Gregorian calendar date, January 7^th.⁷ This latter date may give a very special spiritual meaning to the day because there is no detracting commercial festivities of the earlier celebration.

Christmas has not always been a day of festivity, as we know it. In England the Puritans under Cromwall outlawed Christmas celebration as they were viewed it to be paganistic.⁸ Prior to Prince Albert, the consort of Queen Victoria who brought German customs to England, Christmas was a day of fast and penance.⁹ The Puritan American colonies did not all celebrate Christmas until after the Revolution when English customs fell into disuse. Christmas was declared a federal holiday in 1870.⁸

Advent is from the Latin ad + venire meaning to come to (the first person active is also used as the initial definition, advenio is I come to).¹⁰ Advent is the beginning of the Christian Church year and is a time for spiritual reflection, expectation, and preparation for the coming of Christ. In the sixth century the second coming of Christ became Advent’s focus and in the middle ages there was a return to the remembrance of Christ’s birth with the liturgies using both comings of Christ.¹¹ Advent is observed by Christians following the liturgical calendar and some non-liturgical Christians.¹¹

Advent probably has been observed since the fourth century in the West and eighth century in the East.¹⁰ Advent is the term used by Western Christianity and was originally a time for preparation for baptism which occurred on Epiphany (January 6^th in Gregorian Calendar).¹¹ It was forty days starting on November 16^th before being shortened to start on the Sunday nearest the feast of St Andrew the Apostle on Nov. 30.¹² The forty days were a time of fasting, abstinence and penance; the degree and when was dependent on the time period. Eastern Christianity celebrates these forty days as Lent and distinguishes these from the forty days of the Lent before the Resurrection.¹² In this tradition the regulations for both Lents are similar; however, the one before Christmas is not as strict.¹² Western Christianity has continually lessened the preparation of the spiritual requirements of fasting, abstinence and the number of these days in Advent.¹²

A popular celebration is the Advent Wreath, probably from a northern European tradition of lighting candles in a circle of greenery.¹³ The wreath consists of a circle of greenery with four candles, usually three purple and one rose or pink, in a circle and with or without a central white candle. Each week one new candle is lit along with the candles of the previous weeks. The rose candle is lit on the third Sunday, the half way mark through Advent. The white candle representing Christ is first lit on Christmas Day.¹³

The four weeks of Advent may represent different concepts, such as (1) hope, peace, joy and love;¹³ (2) expectation, anticipation, preparation, and longing;¹⁴ (3) expectation, annunciation, proclamation, fulfillment;¹⁴ or (4) from this year’s lectionary readings "Be watching for Jesus’ return," " Preparing for Jesus’ return," "Witness of the light," and "Ready for Jesus’ return."¹⁵

Since the fasting and spiritual preparations are less for Advent than for Lent, there may be a shift in colors used during the liturgies from purple to royal blue.¹⁴ Both of these colors represent royalty; however purple has become associated with the stricter preparations of fasting, abstinence and penance for the remembrance of Christ’s death and resurrection.

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¹http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07706b.htm

²http://www.conciliarpress.com/again/content/view/58/9/9

³http://www.holidays.net/christmas/story.htm

⁴http://www2.worldbook.com/features/holidays/html/history.htm

⁵http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/03724b.htm

⁶http://www.christianitytoday.com/history/newsletter/2000/dec08.html

⁷http://www.holy-trinity.org/modern/calen3.html

⁸http://www.historychannel.com/exhibits/holidays/christmas/real.html

⁹The Heart of Christmas, Editors of Victoria Magazine, Hearst Books, New York, 1992, p.42

¹⁰http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01165a.htm

¹¹http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2002/147/52.0.html

¹²http://www.intermirifica.org/advent/hisad.htm 10/30/05

¹³http://www.factmonster.com/spot/advent1.html

¹⁴http://www.cresourcei.org/cyadvent.html

¹⁵http://www.livingweb.com/lectionary/b/01/index.html

Following are thoughts centering on God doing a new thing, or change from God or within ourselves, or our desire to be purified. These are expressed through each week centering on (1) expectation, (2) anticipation, (3) proclamation and (4) longing for a deeper relationship with Christ. Each day gives brief thoughts on the referenced Scripture passage and a question to ponder concerning your relationship with God. It is hoped that you will read the Scripture passage, and then ponder how it relates to you experiencing a new thing in your spiritual growth and readiness for meeting Christ whether in death or his return.

Please ask the Holy Spirit to guide and instruct you for the appropriate meaning and application in your life. Although I have sought the Holy Spirit for guidance to write what is good for whoever reads this devotional; yet I know my thoughts may not meet your spiritual needs. These thoughts are expressed as an aid to mutually building up each other in Christ for we are all one body. Just as our physical bodies need healthy cells to sustain life, so we, the spiritual Body of Christ, mutually need spiritually healthy individuals to sustain the Body of Christ and to do the work of Christ.

During the time of Isaiah, he saw the Northern Kingdom or Israel go into captivity under Assyria, and God having delivered Judah from the hands of the Assyrians. God says through Isaiah that the people of Jacob are precious in his sight, they are not to fear, and they will be gathered from the ends of the earth. God challenges them to lay aside the old ways for God was about to do a new thing. We too are precious in God’s sight. What of your old ways are you willing to put aside to allow God to work a new thing in you?

Nov 28, Monday: Isa 48:1-22

God says to the house of Jacob, in particular to those from Judah, I told you long ago what was to happen, and you have seen it happen. This was so that you will declare the praise of God rather than say your idols caused the events. God challenged his people of that time to hear, see and declare the works of God. Then they were further challenged to hear new things that God was creating which the people could not have known. How are you listening to God for the expected new thing that is being created in your life today, so that you can proclaim God’s favor to others?

Nov 29, Tuesday: Jer 31:1-25

Through Jeremiah the Lord reminds Judah that they are to expect and will return to their homes with rejoicing because they are loved and God has mercy for them. In the process God challenges them to remember their errancies and not to waiver for the Lord has created a new thing on the earth, a new approach to the roles for women and men (depends on which Bible translation is used). How are you receiving God’s new challenge that may be quite different from the status quo in your life?

Nov 30, Wednesday: Eph 2:1-22

Paul reminds us in Ephesians that God in reconciling Gentiles with the house of Israel. All are being united to Christ through a new covenant with the abolition of the old covenant. What are you expected to do under Christ’s guidance to unite with people who differ from you in many ways so to create a new humanity?

Dec 1, Thursday: 2 Cor 4:1-18

Paul and his companions say that despite being afflicted in many ways, they keep their focus on eternal life. As they do that, they do not lose heart. With thanksgiving they experience the inward daily renewal of their spirits. What do you do to achieve this expected focus while undergoing your physical, or emotional or spiritual afflictions?

Dec 2, Friday: Ps 55:1-23; Matt 5:43-47

David expresses his anguish in his afflictions from others. The hardest afflictions for him were from this close associates. These he expects God to humble because he saw them not changing or fearing God. How do you react to companions that cause you great anguish: (1) by blessing them as Jesus asked in renewing your relationship with God, or (2) lashing out against them?

Dec 3, Saturday: 1 Kin 8:22-54, 2 Chr 6:12-42

Solomon expects in his prayer of dedication of the Temple that the people will forsake the Lord and subsequently go into captivity for their sins. Then Solomon asks God to forgive the people whenever they look toward the Temple with a change in their heart. In your time of blessing why is your heart: (1) reacting in thanksgiving with continual focus on God, or (2) becoming complacent by thinking I have achieved this without God’s input and thus bringing disaster on yourself?

Dec 4, Sunday: Isa 42:1-25

Isaiah speaks to the Israelites to anticipate the Lord who is light to the nations, brings freedom to the oppressed, declares new things before they occur, goes forth like a warrior against his foes, and brings calamity to change people’s hearts. Yet the people do not trust the Lord’s word. How are you following God’s instructions that are first written on your heart and then through the Biblical guidance of the new ways to approach life’s trials?

Dec 5, Monday: Rom 6:1-23

Paul writes of the struggle with the old life of those who have received the grace of God have put on new life through acceptance of Christ into their heart, the inner baptism that the outward baptism signifies. Thus Paul anticipates that one’s old life has been put to death. However, as one lives in this physical life one anticipates that physical death will not come without struggle, so too the spiritual renewal of life signified by baptism is anticipated to come through stages of struggle. How are your desires to grow to maturity in the Lord progressing through overcoming those things that God is working in you?

Dec 6, Tuesday: 1 Cor 5:6-8, Luke 12:1-3

Yeast is a metaphor for an ungodly thing that if allow to become part of one soon becomes many more. Unleavened bread was required in Israelite sacrifices. Paul exhorts us to be a new batch of unleavened bread by living in sincerity and truth. How are you expressing sincerity and truth?

Dec 7, Wednesday: Eph 4:1-32

A life in Christ is anticipated to be characterized by the trait of unconditional love toward all, especially those who make up the Body of Christ. We are members of that body in union with each other. How are you enabling each other to grow more Christ like, not in selfishness but in the wholeness represented through the metaphor of your physical body with its ongoing changes?

Dec 8, Thursday: Rev 2:12-17

God knows where we are living and what we are experiencing and promises to help us. This means that we are anticipated to overcome those things that are detrimental to us from our surroundings. By receiving the spiritual food of life from God one can overcome and receive the white stone with a new name only known to you and God. This stone indicates your selection and acceptance for a unique relationship with God. How are you overcoming those things that hinder your maturing in Christ and furthering your relationship with God to be worthy of a new name?

Dec 9, Friday: Rev 3:7-13

The Lord says to the Philadelphia church I put an open door before you. Even though you have little power you are remaining steadfast in my word and glorifying me in patient endurance. They can anticipate that if they do not give up, they will remain in his temple with a new name written on them. Often we feel powerless to change things around us. How are you remaining steadfast in glorifying God by living a life worth of God to receive eternal life symbolized by a new name of the Lord written on you?

Dec 10, Saturday: Rev 21:1-8

The culmination of God making everything new is a new heaven and a new earth when the old will pass away. Those who had conquered the old life anticipate that they will receive water from the spring of life in the new earth as God will be dwelling with humans. How are you living to be a child of God worthy of this new home and eternal life with Christ?

Dec 11, Sunday: Pss 33, 40, 96, 98, 144, 149

Today marks the middle of Advent in western Christianity. Traditionally this Sunday expresses joy. With joy we sing new songs of happiness in our hearts and the psalmists exhort us to sing new songs to the Lord for the great works that he has done and is doing. How are you proclaiming with joy new songs of your own joyful words and melody to God, despite all the negativity in your world?

Dec 12, Monday: Rom 12:1-21

Paul exhorts us to be transformed by renewing our minds to what is the good, acceptable and mature way of life to discern God’s will for us. We are to realize that each of us have gifts for the mutual building up the faith in all which is expressed by love overcoming those things that hinder our relationships with one another and with God. How are you using knowledge and spiritual food to change your thoughts and expressions for the maturing the faith of those around you?

Dec 13, Tuesday: 1 John 2:1-28, 2John

The commandment to love one another is ancient, having been written on the hearts of people. However John reemphasizes this in that if we proclaim to walk in the light of Christ, we must have unconditional love for others. Otherwise we are walking in darkness and are not in relationship with Christ. How are you progressing in becoming more loving to those around you, especially those who hold opposite opinions from yours?

Dec 14, Wednesday: Matt 18:1-10

Jesus was asked who was the greatest in heaven? His proclamation was that unless you change and become like little children, you cannot enter heaven. Little children, although they can be very insistent on what they want, are totally dependent and committed to their parents. They become very devastated if they have to be separated from them for any reason. How dependent on and committed to God are you so that you do not want to be separated from God for any reason?

Dec 15, Thursday: Jer 34:1-22

During the reign of Zedekiah the people obeyed initially the word of God to set their slaves free as was in their forgotten law, but later they changed their mind and subjected those set free into being their slaves again displeasing God and bringing calamity on themselves. After having proclaimed and accepted freedom in Christ, where are you allowing old ways to return, and possibly to your detriment?

Dec 16, Friday: Rev 2:1-7

The city of Ephesus was known as the Light of Asia in Biblical times. Thus the One who walks amongst the lampstands challenges the people not to mix love of the world with the love of God for their light will become dimmed and removed unless they come back strong to their initial love for God. How are you, as a light of Christ to those around you, becoming dimmer by pursuits that are not part of God’s will for you life?

Dec 17, Saturday: 1 John 1:5-10, 3:1-3

Since we all fall short of the goals that God has set for us, God proclaims to be faithful to forgive and purify us when we confess our shortcomings to God and forgive one another for their short comings against us. These actions give us hope to see God and thus we desire to purify our selves. What help do you need in forgiving others and yourself to achieve purification for Godly living?

Dec 18, Sunday: Isa 62:1-12

Isaiah speaks of Israel being restored as a shining light and crown of beauty with a new name, being elated with the joy in the Lord as a bride to the bridegroom, and being able to keep the provision that you have labored. However, this required intercession of no rest by the intercessors and giving no rest to the Lord. How longingly are you interceding for changes in your life and your loved ones until the Lord’s will is accomplished in you and them?

Dec 19, Monday: Lam 3:1-66

Jeremiah, reflecting on his afflictions attributed from God, remembers that God’s steadfast love, compassion and goodness brings new mercies every morning for the soul that longingly waits on the Lord during times of trial. How are you examining your ways and being thankful for God’s graciousness to you, even when it appears that God has forsaken you?

Dec 20, Tuesday: Eze 11:14-21

Biblical Israel throughout its history walked with God, rebelled against God, and after calamity longed to returned to God again. God promises to bring them back to their land in which they will cleanse it of those not acceptable to God. In this process God changes the hearts of stone to hearts of flesh with a new spirit to keep God’s ordinances. How are you allowing God to change you heart back to flesh with a new spirit when you have gone astray of God’s ways?

Dec 21, Wednesday: Eze 18:25-32, 36:22-32

God’s holy name is sanctified before the world through people. If they profane God’s name by their actions, actions will come upon the people as God upholds his name. Two of these actions are: (1) if a righteous person turns from righteousness to wickedness, he is to be judged only on the latter; and (2) if a wicked person turns from wickedness to righteousness, he is to be judged only on the latter. In both case the former has no bearing, which is hard for us to accept and possibility giving rise to our profaning God’s name. God promises to those who longingly follow him a new heart and new spirit.. How do your actions uphold the name of God in being merciful to those who have turned from iniquity to a life of righteousness without holding their past against them?

Dec 22, Thursday: Zeph 3:1-20

Every new day God renders justice without fail. However, those who have not drawn near to God fail to hear God’s voice or accept correction resulting into doing violence to God’s laws without shame. The prophets believed they would be removed. Thus only a remnant remains who are faithful and long to enjoy God’s blessings. How are you being like the remnant that is faithful to God and longing for release from those who practice injustice?

Dec 23, Friday: 1 Pet 1:3-25

In great mercy Christ has given us new birth which is more precious than that which is perishable and a longing protected by the power of God whom we have not seen. In this longing we prepare our minds for action and discipline ourselves to live a holy life by turning from our previous futile ways to obedience to the truth and genuine love for all. How are your actions consistent with the hope that you profess in Christ so that people see a holy life example that will draw them to God?

Dec 24, Saturday: Heb 12:14-17

Esau did not value his birthright but degraded it and sold it to his brother for physical nourishment. Later he was rejected for the blessing of his father which went to his brother, although by deception, and could not be changed even though sought longingly in tears. How are you forsaking your birthright with God and losing your blessings? Will you let you of those forsaken, and be open to new ones with your change of heart?

 Dec 25 Sunday: John 1:1-14

Rejoice for the new light has arrived bringing changes in the ways of relating to God. This light offers us a new relationship with God, if we choose. If we choose this light, then we have new life. Jesus, who is alive and within one, will enable one to lay aside all imperfections that hinder our relationship with God. As we often wanders from closeness in a relationship and needs to renew the relationship, how ready are you to begin anew a deeper relationship with this new light?

Written by Jerome V. Scholle

©2005 Christ the Master Ministries