I want this year to be different. I want to stay out of the rut of all the coming and going and buying and fretting that comes with the commercialized Christmas. I want to peel back the layers of familiarity of the season, the familiar carols, the familiar food, the familiar traditions and seek the AWE and Wonder of the Advent –– the coming–– of our savior Jesus.
All of this familiar is a good thing. Yes. But what is not good is when we let it become routine instead of worship.
Join me today on our Advent Awe and Wonder Day 1.
Each day we will use the Advent readings listed in THE VOICE Bible. I will post the Scripture from that translation each day, but feel free to seek out the words in your own Bible as well. I love the poetic nature of THE VOICE and I think it will aid in our seeking of the fresh and new this Advent as this translation is new to many of you. *** You can also find THE VOICE on BibleGateway.com
Let’s get started. Grab your journal a pen and a hot beverage. I’ve got my Earl Grey tea. I don’t drink coffee…can you IMAGINE how hyper I’d be with that level of caffeine!
Today’s Scripture: Isaiah 11: 2-5
2 And on this child from David’s line, the Spirit of the Eternal One will alight and rest.
By the Spirit of wisdom and discernment
He will shine like the dew.
By the Spirit of counsel and strength
He will judge fairly and act courageously.
By the Spirit of knowledge and reverence of the Eternal One,
3 He will take pleasure in honoring the Eternal.
He will determine fairness and equity;
He will consider more than what meets the eye,
And weigh in more than what he’s told.
4 So that even those who can’t afford a good defense
will nevertheless get a fair and equitable judgment.
With just a word, He will end wickedness and abolish oppression.
With nothing more than the breath of His mouth, He will destroy evil.
5 He will clothe himself with righteousness and truth;
the impulse to right wrongs will be in his blood.
The first time I read this Scripture I was confused as to why this passage about God’s judgement and authority was included in our Advent Scripture line up. Because, don’t we just love the warm and fuzzy Scripture that makes us feel good about Jesus rather than think of Him as strict and stringent judge?
Here is a neat Christmas paradox for us as we seek out Awe and Wonder: We worship a Savior who’s character is defined by LOVE and high authority. Jesus sits His heavenly throne judging the sin, the crime, the ugly in the world. Our sin, our crime and our ugly, yes. But, He also extends His strong arm of forgiveness as He did on the cross–– all in love.
In LOVE He took our place for ultimate judgement. In love, He took on human form and came to us as a babe born not in a kingly palace, but among peasants.
In LOVE, He walked this earth to be our ultimate example of godliness for He never sinned yet He took our place in judgement…in LOVE.
In LOVE, Jesus sent His Spirit to us who commit our lives to Him. We have the very presence of God, the Holy Spirit, in our hearts so that we too can live…in LOVE towards others.
Oh thank you Lord, for the Holy Counselor, for in my flesh I can not love others. It is in Your guidance through the Spirit that I can look past my own agenda and daily busy-ness. I can look past my own insecurities and short comings to be Your hands and feet to those who need Your love.
Journal:
~Take time to write out a line or two from the Scripture above. Prayerfully use your pen in worship as you scribble the words on paper and inscribe them on your heart today.
~I mentioned the strange Christmas paradox of a lovely baby who grew into a strong man we call Jesus. The image of love and the image of authority and judgement go hand in hand to define our King. Because of His love, we stand NOT in judgment before God. Write out your thoughts to this Christmas paradox. What comes to mind?
~Journal through this prayer. Write your thoughts to the following prayer prompt.
Father God, our King, our Judge and ultimately our Savior, show me how to live in LOVE by your Holy Spirit…
Awe and Wonder:
Today, take time in prayer and thanksgiving that His forgiveness extends to us even when we let the stress and busy of life get in the way of worship. See His Awe and Wonder as You extend your own grace and mercy today. Ask God to lead you to serve someone today some way, some how. Through the eyes of Jesus, let the Spirit work past your own self-focused desires today to live IN LOVE.
Thoughts? Leave a comment…let’s chat!
Check back in tomorrow for Day 2.
Wonderful insight, and great reminders!
And through His love, He enables is (and calls us) to love those we don’t want to see or deal with at Christmas. Or any time really.
Yes…good point!
That we may delight in His love daily . It totally awes m that He can love me so much. That I would bee able to do that as well. Loved this post today.
Amen friend!
Thank you, Sarah! We read this at dinner tonight with our boys and it was a wonderful way to begin the Christmas season! We will make this a part of our Advent routine each evening.
Julia. Thank you for letting me know. This warms my heart that you will be joining in on Advent: Awe and Wonder with your family. Hugs!
I Loved These Thoughts, Sarah! Too often people think of Jesus as some weak, mamby-pamby guy who just talked about peace and being nice. But He was and is awesomely powerful and strong!!! And (good thing for us) He is compassionate and kind too!!!
Emma! I love your words…couldn’t have said it better myself. Yes!
Sarah, last week as Thanksgiving day approached, in thankfulness and prayer, I began to look ahead to Advent. I put in a CD “Preparing for Advent” and began to pray. I became resolved to make this Advent more special! To celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Feeling filled with the Holy Spirit guiding my way, I knew He would counsel me. I woke today to the 1st day of Advent and after a quiet time, I decided to read my email from Crosswalk…and there you were! I had already journaled my prayer to Jesus to bless my Advent journey which I hoped would bless others by sharing His love, His grace, His joy, His gift of His presence here on earth! Through a greater relationship with the Word made flesh! through the Word of God, my Bible! And there was Awe and Wonder! I am so grateful for where the Spirit led me today to share His love as the day unfolded and look towards tomorrow with anticipation! God bless!
Mary! I’m so glad you are joining us in this Advent series. I love your reminder that Jesus is the word made flesh–there is much awe and wonder in that! Thank you.