Advent Day 14 – The Lion and the Lamb

Posted on December 14, 2013 by David Nuottila

lion and lamb4The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. Isaiah 11:6

God’s intention at the time of creation was a world of peace, a world of communion. Because sin entered the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve, the world is anything but peaceful. Yet, even as the people of God wandered from His goodness, God established His covenant with His people Israel. God raised up Judges and then Kings that would establish His rule but not even those who were anointed king could remain faithful. The present reality of God’s people at the time of Isaiah’s proclamation was that of a people turned away from God, incurring His judgment and facing exile from the land promised to their ancestors so long ago.

Today, humanity suffers the same consequences of our disobedience. Our world is anything but peaceful. Communion between peoples is replaced with division among the nations. Selfish pride all too often gets in the way of sharing that which God has provided and our society is inwardly focused with many living for their selves rather than keeping God’s command to love their neighbor. Yet given all of this, there is hope for God’s people.

Isaiah’s prophecy of the coming Messiah provides a glimpse of the redeemed world. Not only will God’s Messiah come in judgment of all that has been and will be, at the time of His second coming He will establish God’s eternal peace within the restored kingdom of God. This future kingdom is one filled with God’s justice and the communion of God’s creation is reestablished through Christ.

The present reality of the people of God is simply no longer one of a people turned away from God. Rather than living as people divided and facing separation from God, through Christ Jesus God’s people once again enjoy an eternal and loving relationship with their heavenly Father. Even as we wander in the wilderness of a fallen world, through Christ Jesus the people of God have the assurance of forgiveness and salvation. Through Christ, the certainty of death is overcome with the promise of living in the peace of God’s kingdom forever.

We give you thanks, O Lord our God, for your mercy is good and your promises are sure. We look forward to the celebration of the birth of your Son and patiently await His coming again. Bring us at last to the joy of your salvation, living in the peace of your eternal kingdom. Amen.

 

Photo: A Heart Redeemed, Nathaniel Cook; blogspot.com

Posted in Advent Devotions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Advent Day 13 – The Shoot from the Stump of Jesse

Posted on December 13, 2013 by David Nuottila

313671_10151325205055280_2120163143_nThere shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:1-2

Following the reign of King David, the people of God, striving to live according to God’s Law, simply could not remain obedient and fulfill what the Law demands. Kings were corrupt and governed unjustly. Many were given to worship idols and Gentile armies threatened to overthrow the kingdom. It seemed the people had certainly angered God and incurred His wrath with exile and separation from God becoming the outcome. God’s people would suffer banishment from the land promised to their ancestor Abraham so long ago. Yet, in the midst of this, the Word of the Lord came to the prophet Isaiah who proclaimed God’s promise of hope.

Isaiah prophesied before the people that God would raise up one who would bring God’s justice and righteousness to those longing to live in the presence of God. This anointed one, or Messiah, would be born according to the royal line of Israel’s greatest King. He will govern according to God’s loving kindness and the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon His shoulders. Far removed from the days of Isaiah, today God’s people hear this prophecy of hope and give thanks for God’s keeping His promise in the person of Jesus Christ.

Because of sin and the powers of evil, humanity continues to struggle. Yet, as we continue to live in a fallen and broken world, God’s people have hope. Even as our sin separates us from our heavenly Father, through Christ our sins are forgiven. Through the sacrifice of His only Son, God has reconciled that which was lost and saved His people from the consequences of our disobedience. Through Christ and His victory at the cross, God’s people once again have the hope of living in God’s presence restored.

Born in Bethlehem of the Virgin Mary and according to the royal line of Israel’s greatest king, Jesus of Nazareth is God’s long awaited Messiah. He is the fulfillment of the prophecy given to Isaiah and through Him God’s people are saved. As we continue the Advent journey, we do so as sinners redeemed through the gift of God’s grace through faith in Christ Jesus. Our thankful response to this precious gift is to praise God’s name, proclaiming to all the world that God has indeed kept His promise in the person who was given for the sake of all people, Jesus Christ who is Lord of all.

Stir up your power O Lord and come! Just as your prophet Isaiah proclaimed your promise of hose to your people, come into our hearts and minds that we may share the good news of your Son Jesus Christ with all whom we meet. This we pray in the name of Christ our Lord. Amen.

Posted in Advent Devotions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Advent Day 12 – Josiah and the Law

Posted on December 12, 2013 by David Nuottila

IMG_1445Before him there was no king like him, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his might, according to all the Law of Moses, nor did any like him arise after him. 2 Kings 23:25

Most Christian families have within their homes a Bible that is easily found within arm’s reach. They are there on the shelf, the coffee table or the night stand; some are displayed prominently for all to see. But if the truth be told, there are many Christian people who are more inclined to read books about the Bible rather than the Bible itself. Others prefer to engage a Bible paraphrase for their biblical reading. All too often, people are more likely to engage in debates concerning what the Bible says, rather than read it first hand for themselves. Sadly, as the Bible is found in so many places and made available in various translations, it is perhaps the least read book that is given to those for whom it speaks; the people of God.

Well after the reign of David and following the reign of his Son King Solomon, the Israelites were led by kings who drifted away from the covenant establish by God. The Feast of the Passover was no longer celebrated and the Book of the Law was not read and eventually lost. The temple became filled with idols. The people, including their kings, gave in to societal norms and engaged in worship of false gods. Absent of the Law, the people wandered away from the one true God of their ancestors, the God who delivered them from bondage. Finally, during the reign of Josiah, the Law of God was once again spoken to the people.

In a reformation of the temple, the book of God’s Law was found and brought to the King. Upon opening and reading its pages, Josiah realized the people of God had not obeyed the Law given to Moses so long ago. He ordered it to be read to the people, cleansed the temple of idols and brought renewal to a people lost in their sinful ways. Without the Law, the people of God could not recognize God or His promise to be with them always. Josiah, however, upon learning of his sin was faithful and penitent. He received God’s mercy and was spared the calamity of exile as God brought his wrath to the kingdom of Judah.

In order to live a life pleasing to God, His people must first know and understand what it means to live according to God’s Law. The words of Holy Scripture are both gift and guide which reveal to us God’s Living Word Jesus Christ. Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. As Christian people awaiting the coming again of our Savior and Lord, we read the Bible as both Law and Gospel. As sinner in need of redemption, we hear God’s expectations for us and we understand that as we fall short and repent, God bestows His mercy and grace through Christ who gave himself for us at the cross.

To live without God’s Law is to wander through our earthly life without benefit of knowing the limits of our humanity. Living without God’s Law leads to making idols of earthly things, giving into misplaced trust and replacing God as center of our existence with ourselves. Living without God’s Law written upon our hearts and minds closes our eyes to our sin and takes away our focus on the need for a Savior.

Come Lord Jesus, the fulfillment of God’s Law. Show us your mercy and grace and lead us along the path of righteous; for it is in your precious name we pray. Amen.

Posted in Advent Devotions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Advent Day 11 – Israel’s Greatest King

Posted on December 11, 2013 by David Nuottila

???????????????????????????????Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the LORD said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. 2 Samuel 5:1-3

Holy Scripture tells us that King David was a man who had found great favor with God. Following his anointing by Samuel, this once innocent young shepherd boy won a great victory over the Philistines by slaying the great warrior Goliath. Gaining the crown of Israel, David’s armies won many great battles and Israel prospered. David had found such favor with God that he was known as Israel’s greatest king. Hundreds of years later while teaching in the synagogue at Antioch, the apostle Paul said of David, “[God] raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will’ (Acts 13:22). Certainly David had found favor with God. Yet, even this man after God’s own heart was not without fault.

The sins of Israel’s greatest and beloved king are there for all to see. His offences were many, deceit, treachery, adultery and even murder. Certainly he was human and captive to the same sinful condition of all others. What sets David apart, however, is that though his sins were great, as they were pointed out to him his willingness to confess and repent was greater. David was remorseful and humbly bowed to God with a repentant heart. When confronted with his shameful acts, David knew he fell short of God’s expectations for him and asked God to forgive all that he had done.

Reflecting on David’s life, we sinners not only learn and understand that God is compassionate and just, but He is willing to forgive the sins of those who confess and strive to turn away from behaviors that lead away from God’s love. Through David we learn that a life of repentance does not simply end with forgiveness, rather it continues with the challenge for God’s children to live as a forgiven people. To forgive and to be forgiven means that even as someone sins against us, through the compassion of God in Christ Jesus we forgive them as we are also forgive and revisit the sin no more.

King David was Israel’s greatest King; he was a man after God’s own heart. David also was a sinner in need of saving and as such provides a wonderful example of repentance and forgiveness for God’s people. Through the life, death and resurrection of God’s only begotten Son our sins are forgiven. Through the grace made possible by Christ Jesus’ victory at the cross, our heavenly Father remembers our sin no more. As Advent people awaiting the coming our Lord and King, we remember the example of Israel’s greatest king and prepare to receive the one who is our eternal King, the babe who was born of Mary in the city of David.

Loving God, we give you thanks and praise that through your Son, Jesus Christ you have saved your people from sin and the grave. Give us the courage and wisdom of David, so that we may follow his example of repentance and live according to your will. This we pray in the name of your Son Jesus Christ, Amen.

Posted in Advent Devotions | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Advent Day 10 – The Faithfulness of Ruth

Posted on December 10, 2013 by David Nuottila

ruth 1_16But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Ruth 1:16

In the person of Ruth, the Church receives a glimpse of God’s promise of redemption and His invitation to become inheritors of His kingdom. Ruth, a Moabite woman was seemingly lost and forgotten according to early patriarchal customs upon the death of her husband Elimelech. Yet, as her mother-in-law Naomi, who was also a widow, returned to the people of Israel, so too did Ruth even though she was a foreigner. A widow living in a foreign land had little status and much less hope for a prosperous life. Only through redemption by Elimelech’s kinsmen could Ruth be accepted by the people of her late husband.

Ruth’s love and devotion to her mother-in-law Naomi led her to love and devotion of God. Following Naomi’s instructions and living among God’s people, Ruth was led to Boaz, Elimelech’s kinsman redeemer. It is because of her faithfulness and devotion to Naomi, and her many acts of kindness that Boaz would redeem Ruth, taking her as his wife and restoring her to a life of wholeness and community. Through the union of Boaz and Ruth, God would establish the lineage of David, Israel’s greatest King. And through the lineage of David would come the redeemer for all God’s people, the One who would be Lord and King of the universe.

As people of God, we see in Ruth faithfulness that leads to redemption and restoration to wholeness of life through kinship with God’s people. God promises to redeem those who hear the gospel and hold His promises to be true through the life, death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ. The redemption of Ruth, because of her faithfulness leads to the redemption for all who have faith in the one who is Lord and Savior, born of Mary through the lineage of Ruth’s great grandson David.

During this season of Advent, we give thanks for the family of God, for the faithfulness of Ruth and for the redemption she received through God’s grace in the blessing of Boaz. As we hear the words of Holy Scripture, we understand that we too are a part of God’s eternal family through the blood of Christ, born in the lineage of those who were faithful so long ago. May we also serve as such models of faith, so that children of generations to come may learn of God’s saving act, His love and redemption realized through Christ the Lord.

O God our Redeemer, your servant Ruth serves as a powerful example of faith for your people. Help us also remain obedient to your Word and steadfast in faith that our lives may serve as such blessing for others. Through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Posted in Advent Devotions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment