Advent Devotional: Dec 14

 Psalm 42 |  Zechariah 8:1-17 | Matthew 8:14-17, 28-34

This is what the Lord says: “I will return to Zion and dwell in Jerusalem.Then Jerusalem will be called the Faithful City, and the mountain of the Lord Almighty will be called the Holy Mountain.” (Zechariah 8:3)

In the Old Testament, God promised to dwell with his people. God could have come in a pillar of fire or cloud like he did when he accompanied the people of Israel in the desert (Exodus 13). Instead, God the Son descended from Heaven and was born as one of us. God united himself with his creation in Jesus Christ and lived among his people. This amazes me!

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing expresses the miracle of Jesus’ birth and the joy of Christmas better than anything I could write. Today, I encourage you to read the lyrics of the second verse and remember God’s faithfulness as you prepare to sing this hymn on Christmas morning.

Christ, by highest heaven adored; 
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
late in time behold him come,
offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail th' incarnate Deity,
pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the new-born King!"

Reflection question: Emmanuel means “God with us.” How has Jesus been Emmanuel in your life?

Readings from the Revised Common Lectionary
Scripture taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica, Inc.
”Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley & George Whitefield, The United Methodist Hymnal (#240)
Reflections by Rev. Serena J. Wolfe