The First Week of December
We Read…
What comes to mind when you hear the word “righteous”? Maybe for some, this word has a negative connotation or feeling that arises. We think about people who have tried to be righteous and better than others. But this isn't the case when we talk about God’s righteousness. God is the ultimate “right,” and we are called to live in light of this. Jeremiah tells us that The Lord is OUR righteousness; God is the standard by which we should live. This is the same thing when we talk about following God’s path and being guided by God’s loving compassion. God’s righteousness should transform us. God’s loving compassion should change us. And we should go and live these virtues out into the world.
Jeremiah 33:14-16
14 The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill my gracious promise with the people of Israel and Judah. 15 In those days and at that time, I will raise up a righteous branch from David’s line, who will do what is just and right in the land. 16 In those days, Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is what he will be called, The Lord Is Our Righteousness.
Psalm 25:1-10
1 I offer my life to you, Lord.
2 My God, I trust you.
Please don’t let me be put to shame!
Don’t let my enemies rejoice
over me!
3 For that matter,
don’t let anyone who hopes in you
be put to shame;
instead, let those who are treacherous
without excuse be put to shame.
4 Make your ways known to me,
Lord;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth—
teach it to me—
because you are the God
who saves me.
I put my hope in you all day long.
6 Lord, remember your compassion
and faithful love—
they are forever!
7 But don’t remember the sins
of my youth or my wrongdoing.
Remember me only
according to your faithful love
for the sake of your goodness, Lord.
8 The Lord is good and does the right thing;
he teaches sinners which way
they should go.
9 God guides the weak to justice,
teaching them his way.
10 All the Lord’s paths
are loving and faithful
for those who keep his covenant
and laws.
1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
9 How can we thank God enough for you, given all the joy we have because of you before our God? 10 Night and day, we pray more than ever to see all of you in person and to complete whatever you still need for your faith. 11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus guide us on our way back to you. 12 May the Lord cause you to increase and enrich your love for each other and for everyone in the same way as we also love you. 13 May the love cause your hearts to be strengthened, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his people. Amen.
Luke 21:25-36
25 “There will be signs in the sun, moon, and stars. On the earth, there will be dismay among nations in their confusion over the roaring of the sea and surging waves. 26 The planets and other heavenly bodies will be shaken, causing people to faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world. 27 Then they will see the Human One coming on a cloud with power and great splendor. 28 Now when these things begin to happen, stand up straight and raise your heads, because your redemption is near.”
29 Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 In the same way, when you see these things happening, you know that God’s kingdom is near. 32 I assure you that this generation won’t pass away until everything has happened. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will certainly not pass away.
34 “Take care that your hearts aren’t dulled by drinking parties, drunkenness, and the anxieties of day-to-day life. Don’t let that day fall upon you unexpectedly, 35 like a trap. It will come upon everyone who lives on the face of the whole earth. 36 Stay alert at all times, praying that you are strong enough to escape everything that is about to happen and to stand before the Human One.”
We Think…
What stands out to you in these verses?
Does anything confuse you or not make sense?
How do these verses compare to your own experience in life or in the church? What are you considering? What questions come to mind?
How has God taught you to walk along God’s paths (maybe this is from Scripture, a trusted mentor, church, etc)?
How can you know if you are no longer following God’s lead?
What does it mean when we say the Lord is good?
We Feel…
What emotions are you experiencing today? How are you making space for these feelings?
Where have you seen God today or this week? What is pointing you to God (maybe it is something in creation, a friend or adult that cares for you)?
What has God made new in your life? In your heart?
When have you experienced God’s compassion and faithful love?
When have you shown this love to someone else?
We Believe…
We believe that God is righteous and just. In Advent, we prepare our hearts for Jesus’s arrival and await when all things will be made new again. In this time, we remember that God is righteous, even when the world is not. God is just and will bring justice, even when it feels like justice isn’t happening around us. By looking to Jesus in this season, we remember too that God came to live with us and has not forgotten about us. We are called to live out God’s justice and righteousness in the world, and one day, all things will be made right.
We Practice…
This Advent season, take time each day to reflect on what Jesus’s birth means to you. Share this with a small group or a friend who can reflect alongside you. End with this prayer from The Revised Common Lectionary:
O God of all the prophets,
you herald the coming of the Son of Man
by wondrous signs in the heavens and on the earth.
Guard our hearts from despair so that we,
in the company of the faithful
and by the power of your Holy Spirit,
may be found ready to raise our heads
at the coming near of our redemption,
the day of Jesus Christ. Amen.
This prayer, along with other resources for Advent and other seasons of the church year can be found at https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/prayer/?y=384&season=advent&d=1st_sunday_in_advent
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