TODAY'S OLD TESTAMENT VERSE

2 Chronicles 16:9. “For the eyes of the Lord search back & forth across the whole earth, looking for people whose hearts are perfect toward Him, so that He can show His great power in helping them.” The Living Bible

TODAY'S VERSES FROM PSALMS

O Lord, rebuke me not in Your anger, nor disciple me in Your wrath. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing; heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled. (Ps. 6:1-2, 4, 9)

CHRISTIAN ANTHROPOLOGY

"What does anthropology have to do with Christmas? Everything. Christian anthropology begins & ends with Christ Jesus. If we want to see the perfect man, we do not look to our fellow men. We do not look to 'perfect specimens' on television or the crafted characters in fiction books. Rather, we look to the infant child in the manger, & we proclaim the words of Pontius Pilate, 'Behold the man!' (John 19:5)

"Even as an infant Christ is the man. When we consider our creation in the image of God, we look to the Author & Perfector of our faith (Heb. 12:2) who became a man for mankind. When we consider how we lost God's image by the fall into sin, we measure that fall against His perfection. When we ponder our new creation in the waters of Baptism, we do so by virtue of being united to His death & resurrection.

"We celebrate Christmas because in the birth of God by the Virgin Mary, we see mankind as God meant him to be & as God recreates mankind through Jesus." Roy Askins, The Lutheran Witness, Dec. 2022

LOOKING AT CHRIST

"Looking at Christ, on the cross is believing in Him, by which sin is blotted out & cannot hurt us; or, even if it does hurt us, it will not harm us. So everything depends only on this looking at Jesus, & not on any work. However, just as this looking occur physically, so it occurs spiritually in the heart, when we believe that Christ has destroyed sin with His innocence . . . 

"So also here, whoever wants to have a sure remedy & rescue against sin & eternal death must hear & follow this amazing counsel of God; & abandon every other comfort, method, & work; & pin his heart only to this Christ, who let Himself be lifted up for us to bear our sins & death in His body. It has been decided that no other name under heaven shall help us be saved except the name of this crucified Christ . . . 

"When we ask:  'How doe the new birth happen, so that the Spirit makes the person into God's child through water & Word?' Answer:  In this way:  When you grasp comfort against the fright because of your sin & firmly believe that Christ, God's Son, came down from heaven for your sake & was lifted up onto the cross for you, so that you would not be lost but have eternal life. this faith is the box or chest which contains this treasure:  the forgiveness of sins & the inheritance of eternal life. People are saved through that, as Christ says, 'Your faith has delivered you'" A Year in the Gospels with Martin Luther

AN ADVENT COLLECT

"Almighty God, by John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, You once proclaimed salvation; now grant that we may know this salvation & serve You in holiness & righteousness all the day of our lives; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. Amen." Lutheran Worship

AN ADVENT HYMN

Hark the Glad Sound (LSB #349, Sts. 1, 4)

Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes, The Savior promised long; Let ev'ry heart prepare a throne And ev'ry voice a song.

Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace, Thy welcome shall proclaim. And heav'n's eternal arches ring With Thy beloved name.