Advent Devotional 2021
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One Sabbath day Jesus went to eat dinner in the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and the people were watching him closely. Luke 14:1 (NLT)
The fact that Jesus was willing to go to the home of a Pharisee to share the Sabbath meal has always fascinated me. In Bible times, the act of eating together said to the world that you loved and accepted those you ate with. For Jesus to eat with a Pharisee tells us that Jesus loved even these who spent most of their time trying to discredit him. Jesus truly lived out the call of discipleship, for he loved even his enemies.
As a young man growing up, I saw this willingness to open one’s home and share a meal with others demonstrated by my mother. In fact, truth be told, she met most of my friends because I invited them to eat with us. (Probably it would have been nice if I had talked to her before I invited them but . . . she had a good heart.)
Later I would see this same willingness to open one’s home lived out in the lives of my mother-in-law and my sisters-in-law (and my wife also). They too would open their homes (and their dining table) to those who had no place to go.
While I don’t want people to do anything foolish, I can’t help but wonder if, perhaps, our world might be a little bit better if all of us practiced such acts of love.
As a young man growing up, I saw this willingness to open one’s home and share a meal with others demonstrated by my mother. In fact, truth be told, she met most of my friends because I invited them to eat with us. (Probably it would have been nice if I had talked to her before I invited them but . . . she had a good heart.)
Later I would see this same willingness to open one’s home lived out in the lives of my mother-in-law and my sisters-in-law (and my wife also). They too would open their homes (and their dining table) to those who had no place to go.
While I don’t want people to do anything foolish, I can’t help but wonder if, perhaps, our world might be a little bit better if all of us practiced such acts of love.
Prayer focus: Pray about someone to send a card of encouragement to, prepare a meal for, or call
Community prayer focus: Prayer for those who are experiencing a season of loneliness, may God provide comfort to them this season
Community prayer focus: Prayer for those who are experiencing a season of loneliness, may God provide comfort to them this season
Favorite Christmas Carol:
This song, often heard performed as a solo, has a beautiful melody and the chorus tells us to fall on our knees and hear the angel voices proclaim the birth of our Savior. It’s a wonderful reminder of the divine gift we have in Jesus. Most of us can easily sing along during the first verse and chorus, but it’s in the third verse that we learn what Jesus’ lessons were meant to teach us. May we never forget them.
“Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name”
Kevin Cloherty
This song, often heard performed as a solo, has a beautiful melody and the chorus tells us to fall on our knees and hear the angel voices proclaim the birth of our Savior. It’s a wonderful reminder of the divine gift we have in Jesus. Most of us can easily sing along during the first verse and chorus, but it’s in the third verse that we learn what Jesus’ lessons were meant to teach us. May we never forget them.
“Truly He taught us to love one another
His law is love and His gospel is peace
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy name”
Kevin Cloherty
