An Advent Devotional for Dec 1

Walking in the Truth *

Today's scripture

"When Jesus entered the synagogue leader's house & saw the noisy crowd & people playing pipes, He said, 'Go away. The girls is not dead but asleep.'"  Matthew 9:23-24a [For the full context, see Matthew 9:18-26. You'll even get a bonus miracle!]

Today's Devotional Thoughts from Martin Luther:            "Death Is Not Death" **

"Ah, she is sleeping! Death, where are you? Among Christians, death is not death, but a sleep. Indeed, the burial place of Christians is called a . . . 'dormitory.' The heathen cannot give their graves that name. Only Christians say: 'My grave is my bed, my dormitory. I am not dying, but I am falling asleep.

"John 11:25: 'Whoever believes in Me, though he dies, yet he shall live . . . 

"Oh, if only (as the text says) this report of Christ the Restorer of life would go out into all the land (See Matthew 9:26.)--or, rather, into the hearts of all--so that all would believe that He is such a one who considers us dead men as living ones who shall be awakened from sleep. Thus we may scornfully scorn death, certain that He does not lie but shall awaken us, for though to ourselves we seem dead, to Him we are sleeping." 
**  Source:  Martin Luther Day by Day, Concordia Publishing House.

Today's prayer thoughts

Give praise to our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ for it is by His own resurrection from the dead that we are assured that though we will die, yet shall we live. For those who believe it is a matter of sleeping to Him who conquered death.

* A FEW NOTES:  As I've mentioned in some previous devotionals, my "Walking in the Truth" devotionals are mostly adapted from devotions I wrote for the Lutheran High Northeast Daily Bulletin during the last school year (2014-15). Our chapel theme was "Walking in the Truth." I've tried to adapt them so that they appeal to a wider audience than just teenagers at a Lutheran High School.
      In early November, 2014, I went on an indefinite medical leave for what could best be described in layperson's terms as a rather bad case of "burnout." I stopped writing those daily devotions at that time & didn't resume again until March, 2015, so I didn't write Advent devotions during last school year.
      Look around hard enough & you will easily find a multitude of Advent devotional resources to choose from, such as those provided by Lutheran Hour Ministries [which Lois & I use for our nightly devotional time together during the Advent-Christmas season.] 
      For my Advent devotional blogs, I am using excerpts written by Martin Luther, found in Martin Luther Day by Day, published by Concordia Publishing House. I am using only excerpts, not the entire devotions. [I am also using this book as part of my own daily quiet time.]
      Just for the record, I am a Lutheran, & I think the world of Martin Luther. However, his words are not the inspired, holy words of God; they are based on Holy Scripture. I have confidence that the passages I am choosing to share contain God's Truth, as do the excerpts from Luther's writings.
      For more information about the Season of Advent in the Church Year, google Advent-Frequently Asked Questions-Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.