2020 Advent Devotions
Sunday, December 20 - Scott Durnin
Matthew 2:10 “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”
In a normal year, Christmas is a joyful time for most of us and is the gift giving season. Even though the stores are stocked full of merchandise, it is often difficult to find just the right gift for every person on our lists. Fortunately for us, God does not have this problem. In fact, he knows our needs better than we know them, and he knows them before we are ever born. Of course, he gave us the perfect gift, his only son Jesus Christ. That’s certainly a gift that can’t be topped, and it’s a gift that truly keeps on giving.
So in these times of the global pandemic, when many are suffering and most of us have had more time for inner reflection as we socially isolate and perhaps are missing our family and friends (including our fellow congregation members at TSLC), it’s more important than ever to consider the wonderful gift that God has already given us and ask ourselves “What have I given him?”. We don’t need to go to the mall to shop for this, because we know that even though we don’t giftwrap gifts for Jesus, we can please him with the gift of our love and obedience. The best gift that we can possibly give him is our hearts and to show him our love by faithfully doing his will. In fact, we can do this by merely allowing him to work in us and through us.
Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the most indescribable gift, the gift of your Son, Jesus. Help us to serve him with love and obedience. In your name we pray. Amen.
Matthew 2:10 “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”
In a normal year, Christmas is a joyful time for most of us and is the gift giving season. Even though the stores are stocked full of merchandise, it is often difficult to find just the right gift for every person on our lists. Fortunately for us, God does not have this problem. In fact, he knows our needs better than we know them, and he knows them before we are ever born. Of course, he gave us the perfect gift, his only son Jesus Christ. That’s certainly a gift that can’t be topped, and it’s a gift that truly keeps on giving.
So in these times of the global pandemic, when many are suffering and most of us have had more time for inner reflection as we socially isolate and perhaps are missing our family and friends (including our fellow congregation members at TSLC), it’s more important than ever to consider the wonderful gift that God has already given us and ask ourselves “What have I given him?”. We don’t need to go to the mall to shop for this, because we know that even though we don’t giftwrap gifts for Jesus, we can please him with the gift of our love and obedience. The best gift that we can possibly give him is our hearts and to show him our love by faithfully doing his will. In fact, we can do this by merely allowing him to work in us and through us.
Prayer: Lord, we thank you for the most indescribable gift, the gift of your Son, Jesus. Help us to serve him with love and obedience. In your name we pray. Amen.