From Austin Seminary: "Advent Devotional" for December 10

"A gift from our community of faith to you. We at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary are devoted to preparing outstanding leaders for Christ’s church. One of the ways that we nurture leaders is by building a loving community of faith and extending God’s grace to others. In this season of anticipation, we extend God’s grace to you and invite you to explore this book of Advent devotions. Through this collection, please join us as we prepare to receive God’s greatest gift—the birth of Jesus Christ."

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Advent Devotional for Wednesday, December 10

Malachi 2:10-3:1

Like many of the prophets who lived during this “Post-Exilic” time in Israel’s history, Malachi is concerned about the people’s devotion to foreign idols and their unfaithfulness to God. The language that Malachi uses to describe the people’s broken relationship with God is that of another broken relationship, a husband’s infidelity to his wife. Malachi passionately calls out to the people saying, “Have we not all one father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?”(vs.10)

The people have forgotten their promises to God and to one another; they have lost their way and have strayed from the covenantal relationship with God. True to prophetic form, Malachi’s condemnation comes with a glimmer a hope, “See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming says the Lord of hosts.” (3:1).

In Luke’s Gospel, John the Baptist evokes this marriage language in a different context, alluding to the coming Bridegroom—Christ. We celebrate John the Baptist as that messenger who came to prepare the way of the Lord, who prepared for Christ’s coming into this world. In this season where we, too, prepare for Christ’s coming and anticipate the Kingdom of God, we remember that even in our own unfaithfulness, God continually comes to us and continues to be faithful. We sacrifice our lives to the idols of busyness, wealth, and status, and we sacrifice our relationships to the idols of fear, pride, and being right. Christ’s coming shows us that our God is faithful still and will never abandon us despite our shortcomings and unfaithfulness.

So as we continue this Advent journey together, how can you choose to live your life in ways that honor God and God’s covenant? How can we live more faithful lives, as individuals and as a community?

Loving God, we are an unfaithful people, and yet you continue to love us in all our hurting and broken places. Help us to have faith as we anticipate with hope the joy of your Kingdom. Bind us together in your love and in covenant relationship, so that we may faithfully show your love and mercy to others. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

Sarah Chancellor-Watson
Senior MDiv/MSSW Student

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For the glory of God and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary is a seminary in the Presbyterian-Reformed tradition whose mission is to educate and equip individuals for the ordained Christian ministry and other forms of Christian service and leadership; to employ its resources in the service of the church; to promote and engage in critical theological thought and research; and to be a winsome and exemplary community of God's people.

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