Advent Devotional 2021
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And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43 (NLT)
Forty years ago Cheryl and I were a young couple attempting to go to seminary, pastor two small Churches, and raise our young family. Money was tight so we decided, instead of buying Christmas gifts, we would make them.
That is a good idea, if you are talented, like Cheryl. (She made the robe that I wore for my seminary graduation, my ordination, and on those occasions when I wore a robe in the pulpit, it was the one she made.)
I, on the other hand, attempted to make a pair of sconces that would match our bedroom furniture . . . attempted . . . but failed. The stain I chose was close to the color of our bedroom furniture, close but far enough off that it looked off. And, as I attempted to use the router . . . that didn’t go well. And the mirror I attempted to attach . . . got snugged down a little too tight. In fact, my attempt was so poor I ended up buying her something.
Some gifts given are fantastic. Other gifts given are . . . less so. But the greatest gift given has to be the gift of Jesus.
In Luke 2, we discover that he came to be the Savior of the whole world. In Luke 19, we learned that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. And in Luke 23, we are told that our salvation came with a great cost, his life, poured out on a cross.
Many of us have good memories of Christmases. My greatest memory is the remembrance that Jesus came to do whatever needed to be done, so we could be saved. That is the greatest gift ever given, the greatest gift you will ever receive.
Pastor Bob Collins
That is a good idea, if you are talented, like Cheryl. (She made the robe that I wore for my seminary graduation, my ordination, and on those occasions when I wore a robe in the pulpit, it was the one she made.)
I, on the other hand, attempted to make a pair of sconces that would match our bedroom furniture . . . attempted . . . but failed. The stain I chose was close to the color of our bedroom furniture, close but far enough off that it looked off. And, as I attempted to use the router . . . that didn’t go well. And the mirror I attempted to attach . . . got snugged down a little too tight. In fact, my attempt was so poor I ended up buying her something.
Some gifts given are fantastic. Other gifts given are . . . less so. But the greatest gift given has to be the gift of Jesus.
In Luke 2, we discover that he came to be the Savior of the whole world. In Luke 19, we learned that Jesus came to seek and save the lost. And in Luke 23, we are told that our salvation came with a great cost, his life, poured out on a cross.
Many of us have good memories of Christmases. My greatest memory is the remembrance that Jesus came to do whatever needed to be done, so we could be saved. That is the greatest gift ever given, the greatest gift you will ever receive.
Pastor Bob Collins
Prayer focus: Someone you know who does not know Jesus
Community prayer focus: Ministries focused on teens in our community, prayer for volunteers and for hearts changed to follow Jesus
Community prayer focus: Ministries focused on teens in our community, prayer for volunteers and for hearts changed to follow Jesus
Hymn: The First Noel
The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
Noel Noel Noel Noel
Born is the King of Israel
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far
To seek for a king was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went
This star drew nigh to the northwest
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both stop and stay
Right over the place where Jesus lay
Then entered in those wise men three
Full rev'rently upon the knee
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense
The first Noel the angel did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep
On a cold winter's night that was so deep
Noel Noel Noel Noel
Born is the King of Israel
They looked up and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far
And to the earth it gave great light
And so it continued both day and night
And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far
To seek for a king was their intent
And to follow the star wherever it went
This star drew nigh to the northwest
O'er Bethlehem it took its rest
And there it did both stop and stay
Right over the place where Jesus lay
Then entered in those wise men three
Full rev'rently upon the knee
And offered there in His presence
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense
- © Words: Public Domain
- Music: Public Domain
