Advent Day 9 – The Blessing of Obedience

Posted on December 9, 2013 by David Nuottila

29342-R1-13-13_014If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey. Only do not rebel against the LORD. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the LORD is with us; do not fear them.” Numbers 14:8-9

Having been delivered by God from bondage in Egypt, the people of Israel wandered in the wilderness for forty years as God was leading them to the Promised Land. Finally, after so long they reached their destination. There was one issue, however, which had to be overcome. The land was occupied by powers that defied God. Still, God called His people to take possession of the land, promising to be with them as their protector and defender as they entered. But the people doubted. They turned away from God’s intentions and disobeyed the One who delivered them so long ago. Even as God promised to bring them safely to their destination, the people of Israel looked to their own selves for protection and support. They refused the gift God was willing to give. It would take another forty years of wandering before the people would finally obey God and receive the land that God was giving.

Even today, as Christians striving to follow God’s will for our lives, we continue to fall back into sinful ways of doubt and mistrust. Living in a consumer oriented society has us all striving to maximize all that we have in order to feel successful and blessed. We work so hard attempting to fulfill the dreams we have for ourselves that we neglect the many blessings of God we have already. Working long hours earns more money. More money buys more luxury. More luxury give us a feeling of perceived satisfaction. And the more we get the more we want. Getting caught up in such a cycle strains marriages, families, friendships and many other relationships. Living in accordance with such practice cause strain in our relationship with God as well. There is little time for worship, less time for Bible study and no dwelling in the midst of God’s family of faith.

Still, God desires to bless His people. Following the precepts of God and obeying His commands leads us to faithfulness. Living in faithfulness we begin to see how truly blessed we are as children of the heavenly Father. Weekly worship, daily reading of Holy Scripture and praying in all circumstances strengthens our relationship with God, giving us faith to trust and obey His will for us. The more we trust and obey, the more we set our heart on heavenly things and the less time we spend wandering in the wilderness of earthly life. Only then can we see that we are truly blessed by the God who would go to extraordinary lengths to save His people from sin.

Father God, we offer you our thanks and praise for you have saved us from sin and blessed your people with hope for eternal life. In this time of Advent waiting, help us to prepare ourselves in mind, body and spirit, that we may obey your commandments, strive to do your will and receive the gift of your Son in peace and gladness. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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

Advent Day 8 – God’s Commandments as Gift and Guide

Posted on December 8, 2013 by David Nuottila

ExodusAnd God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:1-3

The history of God’s people is a narrative of human rebellion, our need for deliverance and the blessing of God’s redeeming grace. During our time of Advent preparation, the Church hears again the call of repentance and the striving to live according to God’s will. On this second Sunday of Advent, we turn our focus to the gift of God’s commandments.

As we read and study the Ten Commandments, is becomes increasingly evident that the other gods of our world are deeply entrenched, and do not plan on releasing their hold upon our lives. The gods of the world (greed, lust, contempt, etc…) promise us a life of fulfillment and joy, but in the end, they are the promises of emptiness and death. There is no salvation apart from God and no life without Christ. God calls His people to live differently than the children of the world. He calls us to love God with our whole heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves. And so it is we begin such a life with the Ten Commandments as our guide to godly living.

When God gave Moses His Ten Commandments, He passed on to His people the gift of godly living and the expectation of obedience to His will. We are to have no other gods. We are to call upon Him in times of trouble and worship His name in thanksgiving. Living in relationship with others we are to honor those in authority, help our neighbor retain his property while living in such a way that we bring health and wholeness to our relationships. We shall not covet, for as Jesus teaches, “Ask and it will be given.”

Living according to God’s commandments means that we are to fear, love and trust in God above all things. We are to stand in awe of His power and glory while pondering the mysteries of creation, grace, and love that God has for his people. To fear God is not to be afraid, but rather it is to keep Him first in our hearts and above all things. As we wander in the wilderness of earthly life and continue the Advent journey toward Christmas, may we continue to receive God’s commandments as both gift and guide for living in the kingdom of God.

Holy and merciful God, we give you thanks for the gift of your commandments. Give us the strength and the will to follow them, so that all we say and do might be pleasing in your sight. This we pray in the name of our Lord Jesus. Amen.

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

Advent Day 7 – Faithfulness

Posted on December 8, 2013 by David Nuottila

coat of many colorsNow Israel loved Joseph more than any other of his sons, because he was the son of his old age. And he made him a robe of many colors. Genesis 37:3

Within the biblical narrative of the Old Testament, perhaps there is no better model of faithfulness than Joseph. Jealousy, deceit, contempt and anger are but a few of the demons to wage war with this faithful servant of God. His brothers became jealous and angry that their youngest brother was their father Jacob’s favorite. So intense was there jealousy, they cast Joseph into a pit leaving him for dead. Later he would be sold into slavery, falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and imprisoned for crimes he did not commit.

In each instance, Joseph could have cried out in anger because of his suffering. He could have become angry with God at his misfortunes. Yet in every instance, Joseph remained faithful and obedient to the God of his ancestors. In the end, Joseph had ascended to a position of authority and upon recognizing his brothers in their need, Joseph served as a model of God’s grace and mercy. With open arms and a forgiving heart, Joseph welcomed the brothers who had turned their backs on him years before.

The story of Joseph teaches us that within this fallen and broken world, God can use all things for the good of His people. Our lives are also filled with challenges to our faith and instances of injustice. More often than not, it seems an inordinate amount of bad things happen to good people. Yet there is no one person who is so lost that God cannot find them. There is no one so grief stricken that God cannot bring consolation. There is no one person so sick, suffering, or in peril that God cannot deliver them from that which holds them captive.

During this time of Advent, as we prepare to receive God’s blessing of our Savior, we are reminded through the story of Joseph of God’s grace. We are reminded of the lengths God will go to deliver His people from sin. Through His only begotten Son, God is willing to go even unto the cross in order to redeem those lost in sin. Yes, bad things do happen, even to God’s people. But through the power of Christ’s death and resurrection, God will make all things work for the good of His people.

God of grace and mercy, we give you thanks for the gift of your Son and for the salvation you bring to your people though Him. Help us turn from those things which lead us away from you and give us the power and will to live according to your will. This we pray in the name of Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

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

Advent Day 6 – Jacob’s Ladder

Posted on December 6, 2013 by David Nuottila

DSC_0230Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go. Genesis 28:15

Jacob, having tricked his father Isaac into blessing him over and above his brother Esau, is now on the run. He is in fear for his life as his brother has vowed to kill him for what he had done. Alone and afraid, Jacob travels through the wilderness. He is not seeking an encounter with God, nor is he searching for some deeply religious explanation of his life. Jacob is between places, the place of his father which is his home, and the place to which he is traveling where he hopes to find a new life. Yet, through a dream, God makes His presence known and the gospel, the good news of God’s deliverance comes to Jacob. “Behold, I am with you!”

In the narrative of Jacob, from his stealing of his brother’s birth rite and blessing to his fleeing into the wilderness, we can see the human response to sin. All too often trouble, worry and guilt drive people deeper into the wilderness of a fallen world. We wander in search of moral high ground, a solution to our problem or perhaps even search for a God who seems to be absent. Yet, as with Jacob, it isn’t until we let our guard down and become vulnerable, open to divine presence, that we realize God is with us.

Jacob’s vision of a ladder reaching from earth into heaven teaches us that the world is not a place absent of God’s presence. Rather, there is intersection between the realm of earthly life and the heavenly realm of God’s kingdom. Angels, messengers of God, travel to and from bringing tidings of good news and God’s divine protection to those who live within the family of faith. God’s children are not alone; there is someone who walks with us, powerful enough to take on our troubles and wash away our guilt. Because God loved the world so much, we have a Savior through whom we are reconciled to God and therefore may find sweet comfort in words God spoke to Jacob, the same words of Jesus at the mount of ascension, “Behold, I am with you!”

How often do we find ourselves wandering through the wilderness? How often are we between places in our lives?  When are those instances when we search for God, yet He seems distant? These are the times when we must become quiet and still, open our hearts and minds to the presence of our Lord Jesus, and allow the Holy One to invade our time and space, surrounding us with His love and reassuring us through the good news of Christ our Lord.

Lord God, heavenly King, we give you thanks that even in our wandering you are with us. Guide us by your Holy Spirit and guard us with your angels. Help us to see always, your power and presence in our lives. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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

Advent Day 5 – Abraham and Isaac

Posted on December 5, 2013 by David Nuottila

 

 

IMG_1436After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” Genesis 22:1

The life of Abraham serves the Church as an example of unquestioned faithfulness to God and the striving to do His will. Even as the world had fallen into disobedience to God’s will, God’s call to Abraham is a call for humanity to once again to live in His presence. As God called Abram to leave his homeland for a land unseen, Abram did so following the promise of the God he also could not see. As his wife Sarah was said to be barren, Abraham believed God would indeed make him the Father of a great nation. And finally, as God called Abraham to offer up his only son as sacrifice, Abraham demonstrated that he was willing to do so without question in order to remain faithful to the God who is sovereign and almighty.

The testing of Abraham is a most confusing text, yet through the narrative we begin to understand the lengths God is willing to go in order to save His people for their sin. Since the fall of humanity, the wages of our sin demand death. Living in disobedience to God means living apart from our Creator. There is no life apart from God, therefore living apart from our Creator means living in certain death with no hope for salvation. In his time of testing, Abraham followed God’s call choosing life with God by offering the death of his son.

We can’t deny the powerful images within this text just as we cannot imagine making such a choice in order to save our own lives. But through the testing of Abraham, God’s people can see the lengths God will go in order to bring salvation to those who are lost in sin. God is not only the God who tests faith, but He is also the God who provides the means for salvation whether faith is weak or strong.

As Abraham was about to take the life of his son Isaac, God intervened and provided the suitable substitution for sacrifice. The ram caught in the thicket by its horns was no mistake; it was no coincidence. God provided Abraham and his son Isaac with the atoning sacrifice. In the same way, God offered His only Son Jesus for the same purpose, to provide the atoning sacrifice for the sin of the world. As Christian people we believe that we are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ Jesus. As we continue to strive to follow God’s will and purpose for our lives, our grateful response to grace is to offer ourselves as living sacrifices by showing the love and compassion of God for our neighbor in word and deed.

As we progress through this journey of Advent, the texts of the season help us to come to the understanding that in all instances and in all matters of faith, God will provide for the needs of His people. Perhaps you don’t feel you have the strong faith of Abraham. Perhaps you feel your faith is weak and fragile. Even so, faith, strong or weak, is still faith. Because Christ gave His life as atonement for our sin, we no long face such testing as Abraham. God’s grace is freely given to those who believe; given by the almighty and loving God who is provider of all that we need.

Good and gracious God, just as you found your servant Abraham to be faithful in following your will, strengthen us through your Holy Spirit to follow your Son Jesus Christ. Give us hearts for love and hands to work according to your will, so that those who we meet may come to realize the joy of your salvation. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

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