From Austin Seminary: "Advent Devotional" for December 4

"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 Thursday, December 4

Hosea 6:1-6

Where the light dawns to a morning mist, there is found a quiet peace. The grass and flowers are bathed in the soft whiteness of the resting fog. Thin and even moisture teases the earth, refusing to satisfy the thirsty land. We drink our morning coffee and gaze out at this seductive transience, but we fear no lasting impact: the sun will inevitably rise higher. It will burn off the milky haze. We will, in an hour’s time, hop into our cars and look with clear vision up the road ahead.

God’s love is the sun rising up; never failing. Our love is the mist, first here, and then gone. God’s love is a steady rain, reliable and enlivening. Our love is the dew, suggestive but disappointing.

It is amazing that God keeps hoping for more from us; that God continues to ask for a better love. Why hasn’t God lowered God’s expectations, by now – rolling God’s eyes at our immaturity and loving us, anyway? Why doesn’t God accept our apologies and simply move on? But apologies are not what God wants - not penances or sorrows; not flowers or candy. God is apparently not satisfied with loving us “anyway” or “despite.” God is holding out for us to love God the way God loves us.

But can we love God like God loves us? Can we love like the steady sun; can we love like the determined rain? May we, on this day, rise up out of the morning fog and allow ourselves to be bathed in the light of the One whose love is sure. In the strength of that light, we can live before God. In the clarity of that light, we can know God a little better. In the promise of that light, God’s steadfast love will hold our love firm.

Steadfast God, We confess that our love is mist, and yours is sun. Thank you for loving us, anyway. Strengthen our love; help us press on to know you better. Fill us with your Spirit so that we live in your presence each moment of this day, rejoicing in your faithfulness. Amen.

Cynthia L. Rigby
The W.C. Brown Professor of Theology

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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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