First Week of Advent

We are officially in the Advent season, which begins four Sundays before Christmas.  At Delta, we have customized our Advent themes this year, and are encouraging tangible practices of each theme.  This week, our theme is "glory."

Glory

Our God is a glorious God who had made a promise to rescue us from our sin.  The birth of Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of that glorious promise.  And as 1 Peter says how even angels longingly look at the wonder of the Gospel, we see the angels present at the birth of the Christ Child announcing the miracle and proclaiming the glory of God to the shepherds; who in turn gave glory to God for the fulfillment of sending our rescuer.

Scripture: Luke 2:8-15, 20

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

Christmas Hymn to sing: “Angels we have heard on high”

Practice: Spend this week in meditation on God’s Glory, God’s Word, and repenting of any selfish desires that the holiday season can bring.