From the Desk of Pastor Clay

“They spent their time in learning from the apostles, taking part in the fellowship, and sharing in the fellowship meals and the prayers.” (Acts 2:42, GNT)
“Each of us is an innkeeper who decides if there is room for Jesus.” -Neal A. Maxwell

 

 

I hope you enjoyed our Devoted series last month. I think it may rank as one of my favorite sermon series that I have ever preached. Thinking about our faith in such practical terms helps clarify what exactly it is that we should be doing. Plus, seeing the impact that the four areas of devotion had on not only the early church, the world, and even on our faith today inspires me to think more about what exactly “devoting” myself to these things actually means. 

 

So, before we leave the series too far behind and as we continue to journey through Advent to the end of the year, this feels like the right time to think a bit more about what devotion can look like. One of my favorite lyrics we will sing this season comes from from Joy to the World, where Isaac Watts challenges us to “Let every heart prepare him room.” And when paired with the quote from Neal Maxwell about us being an innkeeper deciding if there’s room for Jesus, the season of Advent invites us do some real soul-searching about how we live our faith and how we witness to the love of God made known in Christ Jesus. May we take the time we need during this busy time to pause and consider exactly how it is that we make room for Jesus in our lives. Since the Book of Acts and the Devoted series gives us a framework, let us think more about what it means to devote ourselves to these areas of faith during Advent and beyond.

 

Devoted to the Apostle’s Teaching… Jesus is the reason for the season, and so one of the most impactful ways we can devote ourselves to Christ is by spending time in the gospels. It has been pointed out by many people that there are twenty-four chapters in the Gospel of Luke and twenty-four days in December. There are also a plethora of meaningful devotional books based on scripture available, much like the video series I’m doing on Facebook. Despite the busy-ness of the season, the importance of reading scripture and engaging with God cannot be overstated.

 

Devoted to Communion… We celebrated communion on December 1st, so we did it… right? Let me say, “Yes, but.” Yes, we were able to celebrate Holy Communion together on the first Sunday of Advent, and we will not do that again until the 1st Sunday of 2025. But the action does not stop with the meal. The Holy Meal centers on the body and blood of Christ, and Advent centers on God taking on that human form. The incarnation, God taking on flesh, is at the center of both actions. How can we use the entire season of Advent to meditate on this truth?

 

Devoted to Fellowship… This one is “easy” because there is no shortage of times to be together during Advent and Christmas. Work parties, school concerts, our own Chi Alpha Christmas program. Those are the easy ones. But to take it to a level of devotion invites us to think bigger. How do we extend fellowship to those who feel so alone? While it may be a myth that suicide rates are higher during the holiday season, it is a hard time for a lot of reasons. How can we reach out beyond our normal spheres during Advent to help someone know they are not actually alone? 

 

Devoted to Prayer… Through worship, through daily devotions, and in the home, prayer is the power source that helps us see God at work in this season. Prayer is never not important, but during Advent, prayer can take on levels of creativity in different ways. What would it take to light a candle with our families and pray together about the themes of Advent: hope, peace, joy, and love?  

 

May we feel God’s blessings as we devote ourselves to Christ during Advent and beyond.