Advent Devotional: Joy & Completion
- BearCreek.Church
- Dec 21, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 25, 2024
December 21, 2023
“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.” It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ ” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”
Jesus really is coming back! First, He’ll come unexpectantly, “like a thief”, and only “in the clouds” to totally “rescue us from the wrath to come” (Revelation 16:15; 1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 Thessalonians 1:10). Am I “ready” for Jesus to “raise me up” to “meet /Him/ in the air”? (Hosea 6:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:17) Do I live each day with complete obedience, expectantly anticipating Christ’s glorious return for me? Or do I embrace worldly habits that would make me “shrink away from Him in shame at His coming”? (1 John 2:28)
Lord Jesus, thank You for coming to this world of sinful darkness. Thank You for showing me how to live, and for suffering in my place, so I could be made complete. I commit my life to the true joy of obediently following You. You are beyond worthy, Lord. Help me live on Your higher plain of complete surrender. I get it, that my lack of joy often comes from my resistance to completely trust that Your way is far better than my way. I receive Your power to turn my back on forbidden worldly pleasures. I choose to let You “strongly support” me as I make my heart “completely /Yours/” (2 Chronicles 16:9). I choose Your true joy.
