To the Ends of the Earth – TOGETHER
December – The Advent
This month we will take time to consider and reflect on the season of Advent and celebrate the coming of our Savior and Lord into the world. Consider this brief devotional piece from Alistair Begg:
It was in the fields surrounding Bethlehem that a shepherd boy, David, looked after his father’s sheep. Bethlehem was the place where Samuel arrived in obedience to God’s word to find a replacement for King Saul. He asked Jesse to bring his sons out because one of them was going to be the king. They all came. None of them were chosen. The prophet then asked if there were any others, and the one who just looked after the sheep was brought in—and soon became the shepherd king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:1-12).
Then, 1,000 years later, a man named Joseph returned to his ancestral home of Bethlehem to be registered for a census with his betrothed, Mary. In this now-familiar and ordinary yet historically significant place, it was time for the arrival of the promised and long-anticipated Messiah. For some 600 years previously, the prophet Micah had recorded these words:
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. (Micah 5:2)
Once again in Bethlehem, presumably in those same surrounding fields where David had once watched over his father’s sheep, there would be a stirring as the skies filled up with angelic visitation and echoed to salvation’s songs (Luke 2:8-14).
As you approach this familiar territory during the Christmas season, may your heart be stirred afresh in the presence of God’s Son, our Messiah. May His Spirit move you to consider with awe the centuries-long complexity of the preparation for that moment when your King lay in a manger. And may He cause you to rejoice with the angels in God’s great salvation, knowing that our great God uses the small and ordinary things in life—even a little town like Bethlehem—to accomplish His great and glorious purposes. (Truth for Life Volume Two: 365 Daily Devotionals, 2022, pp 364)
In the bustle of this season may we never forget who and what we celebrate – the advent of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
PRAYER CONCERNS
- Remember the Coad family, at the passing of Jim Coad, former WW missionary, who with his wife Galita, served in Mexico from 1983 – 2012
- Continue to pray for continuing relief efforts in Western North Carolina and in central Florida due to the effects of hurricanes Helene and Milton; especially noteworthy are the relief efforts spearheaded by the folks of First Presbytery in North Carolina
- Praise the Lord for a successful trip to Rwanda for a group who attended the first graduation ceremony for those who completed the Global Diploma in Theology and Christian Leadership program. This is a joint project between World Witness and Erskine Seminary. Those who participated in this trip were: Lee Shelnutt, Justin Brickey, David Galetta, Kyle Sims, Sam and Martha Margaret Cotten, and Alan Broyles.
It is my hope that this short note will be useful to you in some way. I believe asking you for your prayers and consideration will be helpful to all of us as we move through the year. As we approach the Advent season, let us remember to thank Almighty God for providing us with the greatest gift we could ever receive – His Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Grace and peace to you and yours,
Alan J Broyles
Moderator
Thank you Alan.