An Advent Devotional for Dec. 8

Walking in the Truth during Advent *

Today's Scripture

The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Romans 13:12  [Read St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans 13:11-14 for the full context.]

The Light of the World (thoughts by Martin Luther) **

"The doctrine of the Law, or the first light, is the moon. It teaches our obligation to bear fruits, as a good tree should. The other light is the sun. It speaks of the new man, of a different tree, telling us that we receive the Gospel from Christ. There we hear whence & how  man becomes good, namely, through faith. Thus the Gospel deals, not with our works but with grace & gifts, with the good that God does for us & presents to us through Christ. The Ten Commandments tell us about our duties toward God.

"Now to be sure, the moon shines at night, but still it does not turn night into day. Christ, however, is the true Sun. He ushers in the morning & the day. He teaches us how to be saved & how to be delivered from death & sin . . . " [My emphases added.]

Today's Prayer Thoughts

Give thanks for Jesus Christ, the true Light of the world, revealed to us in God's Holy Word. Ask God that the true Light be revealed to someone who is struggling his or her way out of the darkness.

* As I shared in a previous devotional, I did not write devotions for the Lutheran High Daily Bulletin in 2014-15. Therefore, my Advent devotionals so far this year are excerpts adapted from a devotional resource and are not my original thoughts. I think you will find Dr. Martin Luther a much more able devotional writer than I.
      I will also remind you that Dr. Luther wrote in the 1500s, so some of his language is a little archaic, also "mildly" unfathomable {"doctrine . . . the first light, is the moon . . . other light is the sun"?}. At times he is obviously speaking metaphorically in a manner that may have been much more familiar to readers of his time. I do not think it hurts us to challenge ourselves one & awhile.

** Excerpt from Martin Luther Day by Day (Concordia Publishing House)