Advent Devotional: Dec 15

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 | 2 Samuel 7:1-17 | Galatians 3:23-29

And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. (2 Samuel 7:10-11)

Have you ever wondered why we as Christians include Jewish scripture in our Bibles? This might seem like a silly question. But, I was a young adult before I understood that the story of the Jewish people and the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are the basis of our faith. If there were no Judaism, there would be no Christianity.

Saint Paul the Apostle says this: “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ,then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:26-29) God chose the people of Israel and delivered them from salvery to Egypt. But God did not intend to exclude the rest of creation from his promises! No, God worked through the Jewish people to reveal himself to the world. With the birth of Jesus - a Jewish boy - God made those of us who have faith in Jesus part of his people, too.

This is good news! God’s love is not limited to one particular group of people. His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are promises to us and all of creation. The greatest commandment is to love the Lord our God. But we are also commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves because God’s promises are for our neighbors, too. God created our neighbors and loves them; we are called to love God and to love the things - and the people - that God loves.

Reflection question: As you prepare to celebrate the love of God on Christmas morning, how are you preparing to love your neighbor?

Readings from the Revised Common Lectionary
Scripture taken from Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica, Inc.
Reflections by Rev. Serena J. Wolfe