Advent devotions 2007

Tue, 25 Dec 2007

December 25 - In all our distress, Christ became our Savior!
By Jim Brenneman, president

Scripture: Isaiah 63:7-9 (NRSV)
Scroll down for complete scripture.

Devotional:
When the world turned on its axis from evening to that first Christmas morning, something so stupendous, so miraculous, so divine happened that life as we know it forever changed. Isaiah, the prophet, foretold it this way, "in all their distress, he became their savior . . . his presence saved them."

In a few verses further, Isaiah would recount the old, old story of another time when Israel was deeply distressed, enslaved by Pharaoh. But then, God rescued them "according to God's mercy and according to the abundance of God's steadfast love." The story of Christmas is that old, old story of God's divine presence coming to earth, though "now in flesh appearing," to save us from our deepest distress.

What has stressed out you and me this past month? In what ways over our lifetimes have we felt distressed by loss, by wrong choices, by sins, by failed promises, by hurts, by sorrows, sickness or death? How have we caused hurt or pain or distress in others?

The Advent season was much about anticipating the turning of the world toward some future time when God would come to save us from countless experiences of distress. By contrast, Christmas shouts, "The world has now turned! Christ the Savior is born! From sin and death he saves us, and lightens every load." The world has now turned toward Christ, by whose divine presence God forgives us, shows us mercy, loves us steadfastly, lifts us up and carries us through our times of deepest distress. "Oh come, let us adore him. Christ, the Lord!"

Scripture: Isaiah 63:7-9 (NRSV)
I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord,
the praiseworthy acts of the Lord,
because of all that the Lord has done for us,
and the great favor to the house of Israel
that he has shown them according to his mercy,
according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
For he said, "Surely they are my people,
children who will not deal falsely";
and he became their savior
in all their distress.
It was no messenger or angel
but his presence that saved them;
in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;
he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

Posted at 00:24 #



Disclaimer:
The views and beliefs expressed in the devotional piece prepared by each individual reflect their own spiritual growth journey and thoughts, and while created in a campus environment that encourages thoughtful questions and reflection on biblical Scripture and contemporary Christian themes, do not necessarily represent the official institutional positions of Goshen College or Mennonite Church USA.