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Advent Devotional for Friday, December 11
• Philippians 1:3-11
When reading through the epistles of the New Testament, it can sometimes be tempting to skip over the greetings and farewells. At first glance, they may seem of little consequence or importance, even comparable to the genealogies of the Old Testament. Perhaps they had some significance for the people mentioned therein, but they don’t have much relevance to us now. After all, they are specifically addressed to other people.
However, there is something profound in these greetings and farewells, something often overlooked: the fact that they show these epistles are personal letters. Oftentimes it is too easy to reduce the epistles to long lists of instructions, rules, rebukes, and theological arguments. The point of the matter is that Paul was not simply writing to his business partners or inferiors in Philippi; he was writing to his beloved friends with whom he shared the great difficulties and blessings of living the Christian life.
Since its very inception, Christianity has been about relationship and community. God has given us friends, families, and communities with whom we will always find love, belonging, and encouragement. Though it might not always feel this way, we must never be deceived. This life is not meant to be lived alone, so we mustn’t think it is or try to make it so. The grace of friendship and community is always to be found in the love of God.
So, as we live this Christian life, and especially in this season of Advent as we wait in patient expectation of the coming of our Lord, may we always remember that we do not do so alone. Indeed, we are found in a great company of friends, the family of God, the bride of Christ, with all the saints and angels, for whom our Savior will come again. Thanks be to God.
Gracious God, Giver of every good and perfect gift, from whom all blessings flow:
We thank you and praise you for the gift of friendship, the love of family, and the blessings of community. Fill our hearts with thanksgiving as we remember all those who have so blessed us; may they know how much we love them and appreciate their presence in our lives. Yes, fill our hearts to overflow, so the whole world might know your love and grace.
In the name of God who is love, God who is grace, and God who is peace:Amen.
Jesse Lee
MDIV Student from Ann Arbor, Michigan
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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