2010 Advent-Christmas-Epiphany Devotions

SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT
Roland McElroy

Light two candles of the Advent Wreath.

Read Isaiah 11: 1-10

Waiting.

Anticipating.

It’s hard to do sometimes, especially when we’re told the something we’re waiting for will be wonderful. The Israelites were anticipating something more than wonderful. They could recite from memory the prophesy of Isaiah and spoke of it often: There is one coming on whom “the Spirit of the Lord will rest, the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.” Isaiah 11:2

Is it any wonder they could not wait to meet and hear the Messiah in the flesh?

The scriptures also promised the Coming One will “rule from sea to sea and will endure as long as the sun.” Psalm 72:5

Anticipation was in the air – and that is an understatement!

In a popular song from the 1980s, the impatient artist sings, “Anticipation – is keepin’ me waitin’.” The people of Israel anticipated the arrival of Emmanuel for a very long time and, no doubt, were tired of “waitin’.”

Today, we are reminded of their impatience when we sing, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nEs0eUZNbg&feature=related, “Bind all peoples in one heart and mind; bid envy, strife and discord cease; fill the whole world with heaven’s peace.” Those words, of course, were written long after that first Christmas but one can imagine the people of Israel expressing similar sentiments to each other as they waited impatiently – but excitedly.

Many were so ready to greet the Savior that they thought John the Baptist might be the Messiah. “No,” John told them, “but He is coming – and soon. The one coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not worthy to carry His sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Matthew: 3:11

At this point, the anticipation must have been palpable.

John knew their waiting would soon be over and he urged them to prepare their lives to receive their Savior. In this season of advent, we celebrate the First Coming of Jesus Christ while reminding ourselves to prepare our lives for a Second Coming – a Second Advent!

Prayer
Our Father,
As we light these candles
on this second Sunday in Advent,
let John’s message strike a healing chord
in our hearts,
reminding us
there is none so lost they cannot be found,
none so sinful they cannot be saved,
none so hopeless their life cannot be changed.
And may John’s message remind us
that this day is the best day
to prepare our lives for the Second Advent;
for truly,
the anticipation of that event has already begun.
Amen.

Next - Third Week of Advent >>

Updated March 13, 2011