Scripture for the First Sunday in Advent
November 29, 2009 by Lillie
I’ll be posting a Scripture and short prayer for every day of Advent. These are from Advent prayers I posted several years ago to a prayer chain in my parish. I hope you’ll join me in these short devotions.
1 John 2:15-16
Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world —the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.
Lord, we come to you on this first day of Advent admitting that we often become apathetic in our spiritual lives. Instead of making You our top priority, we succumb to the busy-ness of the world. Yet You have told us in your Holy Word that if we love the world, the love of You is not in us. Renew our hearts through the Holy Spirit during this holy season, Lord. Focus our minds on serving You in that part of Your Kingdom where we live and serve. This we ask in the name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
We are not of this world our existence comes from God and God alone.
.-= Oliver´s last blog ..Dream! Believe! Survive!: Philippines’ Booming Level In The Field Of Business Process Outsourcing =-.
Oliver,
Yes, we are in the world but not of the world.
Love this scripture and always remind myself to live by this principle.
.-= Alexandra´s last blog ..Easy Tool to Use For Backlinks =-.
Alexandra,
Sometimes we need to remind ourselves because it’s easy to get caught up in the world.
A great reminder for the beginning of Advent, Lillie! Thanks!
Jeanne,
We get a little pamphlet of Advent readings every year at our church. This is from the readings of a couple of years ago, but I thought it was a really good series of short readings and decided to post them as others might like to read them too.
Great idea, Lillie! Not everyone gets Advent readings from their churches.
Jeanne,
I know a lot of churches aren’t liturgical and may not even observe Advent, so maybe some of the those folks will appreciate finding out how helpful it is to prepare for the coming the Lord.
The pastor of the new church plant I’m attending is preparing his own Advent devotional readings each week for those who want to use them. I’ve taken a copy and have been reading it each day. I do think it’s great, though, that you’re providing these readings for those who don’t have access to them. And I’ve enjoyed them, as well.
Jeanne,
Whatever devotional or Scripture you use, it’s good to do something extra during Advent.
Observing Advent is new to me, but I am reading my Advent devotions in addition to the devotional I normally read each day throughout the year. And your Advent readings make three separate daily devotions. While I read your first three today, because I just discovered them, hopefully I’ll be able to pop back by each day for the remainder of Advent to catch the rest of your readings. They’re very edifying. Thanks again for sharing them!
Jeanne,
I’m glad you’re finding my postings helpful along with the other devotions you’re reading.
Gosh, I wish it were possible to follow this counsel on our own.
From the person who insists on the first pew in church, to the proud priest in his pulpit, to ME first and foremost, I haven’t in my long life found anyone capable of following this counsel.
I suppose we should “Judge not lest we be judged,” AND, rely on Jesus to save us.
In all humility, I have to say that all the scripture in the world has not helped the folks in my parish live this principle in the least….perhaps most of all the person who judges so harshly…..ME.
I was speaking with an Archbishop at one point years ago, and I couldn’t get a word in edgewise as he went on about how he was chosen in the preexistence to be blessed of the Lord. Well, good for him. And, I understand why he might be proud of his station.
However, were he to preach the scripture you have posted here, I have to say it would be all I could do not to laugh in his face.
Please understand that I am a believer in God, and am devoted to Jesus.
However, I haven’t found scripture to be at all helpful to myself or especially to those who stand in front of churches and read them every week.
One of the reasons that Mary Baker Eddy refused to have “sermons” in her churches was because of the puffed up personal spiritual pride they arouse.
The only way around this is to depend on the Lord.
In my long life, I have not found scripture to be very helpful in following the very noble sentiment being quoted here. I wish that weren’t true. But, that has been my life experience.
.-= Vincenti Winchester´s last blog ..A Brief History of Christmas Tree Ornaments =-.
Vincenti,
I believe Scripture is the divine Word of God, and we must read, learn, study, and observe it.
However, Scripture itself tells that we all fall short. We are all human sinners and cannot live up to the ideals we believe in.
We can call on the help of the Holy Spirit to enable to more closely live according to the Word of God. And when we fail, repent and ask forgiveness.
Only Jesus Christ Himself was perfect—the rest of us are not and won’t be until we are in Heaven with God.
The next reading in this Advent series reminds us that it is Satan, not other people, who is our enemy. When other people—and we ourselves—act badly, we should pray for them (or ask forgiveness for ourselves), not judge and condemn.
Now, I’ve preached a sermon, which I didn’t mean to do.
I am reminding myself and sharing what I believe, not directing my comments at you or anyone else personally.