Eastiew Community Church
Eastview Community Church

Today at Eastview

Fourth Advent Devotional Guide

Dave Ens - 2009-12-21

FOURTH ADVENT – LOVE ALL

 

READ

 

Isaiah 61.1-3a (NLT)

 

61 1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,

for the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted

and to proclaim that captives will be released

and prisoners will be freed.

2      He has sent me to tell those who mourn

that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,

and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

3      To all who mourn in Israel,

he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,

a joyous blessing instead of mourning,

festive praise instead of despair.

In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks

that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

 

TALK

 

The list of people in this Bible passage are people that we don’t really think about all that often (poor, captive, prisoner, broken-hearted).  In another famous Christmas passage, the angels say I bring good news of great joy which will be for ALL people (Luke 2.10).

 

The truth is that God sent Jesus to forgive the sins of ALL people and to let EVERYONE know that they are loved – even those people who we don’t think about (or like to think about) that often.

 

That’s really a big deal!  Because there are a lot of people out there who don’t think anyone loves them, who don’t have anyone to care for them, and who feel all alone, especially at Christmas.  I wonder how the world would change if we made Christmas about letting everyone know that God loves them.

 

ASK

 

Are there people you know who might feel all alone this Christmas season?

 

How do you think the world would change if everyone knew just how much God loved them?

 

In the book of James, there is verse that says: If you see someone who needs food and clothes and you say to them “All the best!  Stay warm!  Enjoy your meal!” but you don’t give them any clothes or food, what good is that? (James 2.15-16).  Those are called empty words.  Do you ever use empty words; or words that don’t really line up with what you do?

 

RESPOND

 

Make a pledge together as a family (that means a serious or formal promise).  Pledge that you will decide on a way to let people know that God loves them, especially people who don’t feel very loved or who are alone.

 

...a good place to start is with that list from the Isaiah 61 passage: the poor, the broken-hearted, the prisoner.

 

...maybe it means giving up some of our own gifts and giving them to others, or visiting regularly, or offering to help them with a need, or ... (be creative!)

 

... I challenge you to try it for a year!...but don’t pledge for longer than you really feel you can do it. 

 

Take some time to pray together and ask God to show you who needs to know his love.