From Austin Seminary: "Advent Devotional" for December 15

"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 Monday, December 15

1 Kings 19:1-18

It is easy to get discouraged and cynical—to let the small things shake us. First Kings 19:1-18 tells of such a moment. The great prophet Elijah, immediately after his triumph over the priests of Baal at Mt. Carmel, flees to the wilderness after being threatened by Jezebel. Elijah, who just moments before had witnessed the overwhelming, potent power of God on Mt. Carmel, cowers and runs when faced with a threat from a defiant queen! And yet the story turns this moment of Elijah’s failure into a poignant lesson about the faithful, perpetual presence of God. God does not scold Elijah for being weary or for being disappointed or even for running away. Rather, God strengthens Elijah with food and water, even sending an angel to wake Elijah so that he can eat. God takes care of Elijah. He soothes his servant, and tells him he understands his weariness. God acknowledges that Elijah’s journey is indeed too much for him.

We have all felt like Elijah at some point in our lives. Like the prophet, we have all cried aloud or thought silently to ourselves: “I have had enough, Lord …” This passage reminds us that God understands such moments of weariness. More importantly, it tells us that God is present in such moments. It is in these points of disappointment, this passage reminds us, that the nature of God is revealed. God is found not in the moments of triumph or power or loud victory. Rather, 1 Kings 19 tells us that God’s true presence and faithfulness is elucidated and found in the silences, pauses, and sighs that occur during a period of disappointment and tiredness.

Strengthen us when we are weary. Remind us of your faithful presence, and let us look for you and hear you in the still silence. Amen.

Song (Suzie) Park
Assistant Professor of Old Testament

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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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