Advent Reflection Dec 14

Daily Readings

Morning
Deuteronomy 6:4-9

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Why are the people of God in Deuteronomy called to so frequently visit the words of God? All day long, with their children – constantly? Because we easily forget. Why are we called to love the Lord? Because he first loved us. The coming of the Christ is proof. Know today that you are loved.

Afternoon
Matthew 22:37-40

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus quotes from the words of Deuteronomy, ensuring us that love for God and others remains the goal of the Christian life. How are you doing?

Evening
Hebrews 13:5-6

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

The best thing about this part of this New Testament letter is the promise that goes with it. Yes, it’s hard in our culture to truly keep our lives free from the love of money. But the way to be free from that destructive love (and all other destructive loves) is the same thing that frees us from the shame of having destructive loves. The gospel promise that he will never leave us. Sleep tonight knowing that despite whatever your failures to keep the commands you have read today ~ Jesus will never forsake those whom he loves.