Advent Devotion Week 2 Day 7
God's Promise of Hope, Light in Darkness, and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
As Advent Week 3 nears, the Christian world continues to wait and hope for Christ's coming and birth at Christmas.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, the day's scripture from the Stirring Up Advent Series, explores God's promise of hope in the midst of the many dangers of life.
Feel free to select any of the following four steps of the devotion-scripture reading, reflection, activity, and prayer- that meet your needs today. Enjoy.
Step 1: Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.
Step 2: Read the Following Advent Reflection on 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 entitled "Light in Darkness"
"For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him" (1 Thes. 5:9-10).
Paul uses powerful imagery of light and darkness, salvation and wrath, to describe life with Jesus. Light and salvation are connected with Jesus, God's love for the world and Jesus' death on the cross, whereas darkness and wrath are the opposite, the emptiness of believing in nothing and the hopelessness of having oneself as god and seeing this life as the end.
Yet Jesus doesn't just exist for those who see him, for those who stay awake. Jesus exists for the world, for its salvation, that everyone might have life, and have it abundantly.
Many people do not choose life. Many Christians are as guilty as anyone of clinging to life-sucking behaviors, holding grudges, and committing various acts that harm God's world and others of God's children. Not living up to God's standards is part of being human, and Jesus came to save humanity.
When the day of the Lord, the end of time comes, Paul warns the Thessalonians that, "when they say, ‘There is peace and security’, then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labour pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape" (1 Thes. 5:3).
Though that destruction at the end times is beyond human comprehension, everyone alive now knows the destruction of resentment, anger, injustice and oppression. Jesus came to save the world from the destructiveness of being alive as surely as Jesus came to save us from the evils of the world and from evil itself.
That's why the light shining in the darkness is so important. Despite the darkness in life-insert any misery here- the light is still there for those who seek.
"But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation" (1 Thes. 5:8).
Jesus knows the need for protection against the darkness of life. How believers must brace the breastplate of faith and love against doubt and fear, how tightly believers must pull the helmet of hope down against negative thoughts that encourage sin against self, others, and God! The battle against darkness, fought this Advent as Jesus nears will continue to wage until the end of time.
For now, as children of light struggling against the ever present darkness, let us hear Paul's words to the Thessalonians as words to us.
"Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing" (1 Thes. 5:11).
Keep up the good work, children of light, as you seek the light of Jesus, the Advent and always. Amen.
Step 3: Reflection Questions over 1 Thes. 5:1-11 and "Light in Darkness"
- Reflect on a time when you felt darkness in your life. What brought hope to you? How did God bring you through the darkness?
- What are situations in the world at present where darkness enjoys an influence- the economy, wars, illness of a loved one? Make a short list, and pray for the light of God's love to incluence those who struggle with these situations, that they might see hope.
Step 4: Closing Prayer for 1 Thes. 5:1-11 and "Light in Darkness" Reflection
God of Light, continue to guide your children seeking light, that darkness in the world may not overcome us. Save all of those struggling with anger, fear, resentment, injustice, illness, oppression, and any other situations where darkness plagues them, and give them the grace to reach for the protection of faith, love, and hope, through your son Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Other Suggestions for Advent Prayer
Advent is the season of "coming to" Christ, literally from the Latin. What might coming to Christ look like in your life? Take the opportunity to spend a little time with God each day exploring how God has guided you so far on your journey with Him, thank Him for His Light, and ask for ways your light may shine more brightly for others.
For other Advent prayer ideas and devotions, try Advent Devotion Week 2 Day 6 Living Stones.
SOURCES:
Holy Bible. NRSV. Oremus Bible Browser. 2008.
Zimmerman, Mark. Stirring Up Advent. Creative Communications for the Parish. 2008.
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