Advent Reflections 2022

Week 1, Saturday December 3

Matthew 22:15-22
 
Vs 20-22
And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” When they heard it, they marveled; and they left him and went away.

Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.

Give to the world the things that are worldly.

            Render Jealousy

                                    Greed

                                                Violence

                                                          Hatred

                                                              Lust    to the World.

Render to God the things that are God’s.

          Render Forgiveness

                     Compassion 

                                    Food for the hungry

                                                Shelter for the homeless

                                                            Love for the lonely

                                                                   Repentance              

                                                                       Prayer    to God

It can be difficult at times to determine clearly what is God’s and what is the World’s. Especially knowing that all of creation belongs to the Lord! And until we are born into eternal life, or Jesus returns, we are here waiting in a world of chaos and distractions trying to figure this out.

When Jesus became incarnate and took on our flesh, the things of God entered into the things of the world. Divinity tangibly dwelt in the realm of Caesar, and the advent of redemption began.

This Advent, what are you willing to render to God?

Week 2, Sunday December 4

RESPONDING TO THE PROMISE

2 Thessalonians 1:5-12 
 
Vs 11-12
To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his call, and may fulfill every good resolve and work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

This prayer in verses 11 and 12 is intentionally connected to the faithfulness of God; when the Christian responds to this faithfully, the Lord is glorified.

In our lives, God is constantly pursuing us, asking us: “will you”?

2,000 years ago a young woman named Mary said ‘yes’ to that question, and she began the greatest time of waiting that the world has ever seen.

Paul is praying over the Church in Thessalonica that they too will say ‘yes’ to God’s never ending pursuit. These ancient people lived in fear of persecution, suffering greatly while they learned the Christian faith and grew in their belief.

Yet, in the midst of their difficulty, God continued to reach out to them, calling “will you”? And they were not left to this faith growing on their own; the Lord sent Paul and Timothy to walk alongside them, to encourage and teach them.

The Thessolonians were prayed over and given opportunity for Christ to be glorified in and through them

Today and every day, God asks us: “will you?”

In the midst of our afflictions, joys, struggles and celebrations.

Whatever your answer is - whatever this season may hold for you - may the name of our Lord Jesus be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.