While many may seem rushed during this
particular time of the year, spend some time with your Lord in devotion and
prayer. Consider the many blessings He has given you as we begin to prepare for
His coming as the promised Savior and Redeemer of the world.
The
theme for the first Sunday of the Church year, Advent 1, falls under the theme,
“The return of Christ.” In the Old Testament lesson we learn that God
will send a Messiah to execute justice and righteousness on the earth. In the
Epistle, St. Paul reminds us to prepare for Christ’s return by being blameless
in holiness. In the Gospel lesson, we are told to watch and pray as preparation
for the sudden return of Christ.
Collect for Advent 1 –
Stir up Your power, O Lord and come, that by Your protection we may be
rescued from the threatening perils of
our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the
Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Monday, 22 November 2015—Psalm
89:6, 14-16, 18, Antiphon, Zechariah 9:9b – Behold your King is coming to you;
righteous and having salvation. These words were fulfilled by Jesus when He
entered Jerusalem
on that first Palm Sunday. They hailed Him then but later rejected Him. How
would Jesus fare if He were to enter our city today? Christ is always coming to us whether we
recognize Him or not. In which ways does He come to us? Hint: It all starts
with the word “W” – Word, Wafer, Wine, and Water. Prepare for Him now while
there is still time. There will come a time when time shall be no more.
Tuesday, 23 November 2015—Psalm25:1-10; key verse, verse 6—
Remember, O Lord, Your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. The
Advent season is a time spent in reflection. We remember the Savior’s
prophecies and we see how He fulfilled them. We remember His promises to
restore and forgive us and we see how He worked everything out according to the
Father’s plan. As we prepare for the beginning of the Advent season, spend some
time thinking of the many gifts and blessings the Savior has given you. How
ought we respond with thankful and grateful hearts? How can thanksgiving be
translated into thanks living?
Wednesday, 24 November 2015—Jeremiah 33:14-16–God’s promise to send
a Branch from David will be fulfilled. In verse 14, God promises to fulfill a
promise. Was not the promise fulfilled in Christ? Is there still a promise to
be fulfilled? Has the promise been fulfilled in you? Let’s look at the one who
is coming. Who is He? He is the Son of David - royalty (verse 15). He is work in justice and righteousness (verse
15b). The result of His coming is salvation (verse 16).
Thursday, 25 November 2015—1 Thessalonians 3:9-13—Be blameless in
holiness at the return of Jesus Christ. When Christ comes, we are to be
pleasing to Christ. Paul explains what these requirements are. Who can meet
them? Is it possible to meet these demands? Love – not only Christians but all
people (verse 12). Be blameless in
holiness – not only before men but before God (verse 13). How is such perfection obtained? It is found
in the holy one of God.
Friday, 26 November 2015
– Luke 21:25-36 – Conditions of the
world prior to Jesus’ return. Of this we can be certain, the end will come.
Will it be this generation? Consider verse 36. The signs of the end are clearly
given in verses 25-26. Know the signs!
Thus in this Advent season we prepare for the end and for the
celebration of Christ’s return. How might we do this? Consider verses 34-36.
Saturday, 27 November 2015—-Luke
19:28-40—These verses inspired the hymn, The Advent of Our King (LSB 331). We come to the beginning of a new church
year. The harvest is complete. Thanksgiving festivities have come to a close.
We now prepare for the celebration of Christ’s birth. We anticipate Christ’s
sure and certain return in glory. This year will it be a miserable or a merry
Christmas? If you are prepared to meet Christ when He comes in the clouds of
heaven you will be in the right frame of mind in celebration of His first
Advent. Circumstances may change. Our perception to them is what is important.
Collect for the Glorious Reign of Christ — Lord
God, heavenly Father, send forth Your Son, we pray, that he may lead home His
bride, the Church, that we will all the redeemed may enter into Your eternal
kingdom; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with
You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
A prayer for Christ’s return – O Lord, absolve Your people
from their offenses that from the bonds of our sins, which by reason of our
weakness we have brought upon us, we may be delivered by Your bountiful
goodness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
A prayer of
supplication – Almighty God, our
heavenly Father, because You desire not the death of a sinner but rather that
he should turn from his evil way and live, graciously turn away from us the
punishments which we by our sins have deserved and which have been borne for us
by our Lord Jesus Christ, and grant us ever to serve You in holiness and
pureness of living; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever.
Prayers from Lutheran
Service Book © 2006 and Lutheran
Worship © 1980 Concordia Publishing House
Schnorr Von Carolsfeld
woodcuts © WELS permission granted for personal and congregational use
Lectionary Preaching
Workbook Series C – John Brokhoff © 1979 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH
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