The Weekly Word Advent Series - A Devotion for the First Week of Advent
Join us for the next four weeks as we offer a special Weekly Word devotion in honor of the Advent season. We invite you to make space in your heart, mind and soul as we wait with joyful anticipation for the coming of Christ.
This week’s scripture reading is from Jeremiah 23:5.
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up from David’s line a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.”
The Book of Jeremiah is probably not the first scripture that springs to mind as you consider these four weeks of Advent. Known as the weeping prophet, Jeremiah’s prophecies are chock-full of lament, as well as anger, bitterness, disappointment and frustration. And yet, for all its sorrow, darkness and seeming hopelessness, the Book of Jeremiah is in many ways a fitting entryway into Advent – particularly this Advent of 2020, as we walk through an especially dark and troubling season.
The word “Advent” comes from the Latin prefix “ad” – meaning “to” – and the root “venire” – meaning “come.” To come. Advent is a time of waiting and anticipation, a time of “not yet, but soon.” This year, as we step into the Advent season, we find ourselves waiting – waiting for a vaccine that will help prevent further sickness and loss of life; waiting for a time when we can hug our friends and family again; waiting for better, brighter days to come.
These days are coming, God promises.
We have an advantage over Jeremiah and the ancient Israelites because we already know God’s promises are true. We hold the New Testament in our hands – the story of how God’s promise has come to fruition in His son, Jesus. Today, as we find ourselves in what might feel like a rather dark season, we wait with confident hope knowing God – Immanuel – is not only coming…He is already with us.
Lord God, You are my Light in the darkness. You are my hope as I wait. You are Immanuel – God with us…God with me. Amen.