Advent Reflection: Day 9

Monday, December 7

Psalm 27; Isaiah 26:7-15; Acts 2:37-42

Last summer, my family went to Sunset Beach for our vacation. As we were leaving from a fantastic week at the beach, my 4–year–old daughter said, “Can we just start this week over?”

On the opposite end of the spectrum, does anybody feel like that about 2020? Could we just start this year over? We’ve had a year full of global pandemic, protests, and a tense presidential election. We have all weathered our fair share of storms this year, so what if we took this Advent season to start fresh?

Advent is a time of expectant waiting, a time to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Jesus. In our scripture for today from Acts 2, the early church provides us a great way to “start over.” Acts 2:42 reads, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching …”

Who, or perhaps what, are you learning from? Whether intentional or unintentional, we are all devoted to learning from someone or something. A teacher can take the form of a favorite news site, social media, literature, or any person in our lives from whom we are willing to listen.

The early Church was not just willing to learn from the teachings of Jesus; they were devoted to them. Picture the early church—fresh off Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven. They are new at this church thing. It is interesting that the first thing they were sure to do was devote themselves to the teachings of Jesus through the apostles.

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are full of the teachings of Jesus that the early Church was devoted to, lessons on life, love, and being together in fellowship. Do you remember the stories of him teaching? Often sitting on a hillside or reclining at a table with his disciples, Jesus was constantly teaching those who chose to follow him and even those who did not. Imagine what that must have been like to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn.

Let us take this Advent season to “start over.” Let us devote ourselves to the teaching of Jesus and be restored as we expectantly wait for the coming of the Christ child.

Prayer: Lord, this Advent season, let us sit at the feet of your Son and learn. We long to dwell in your house all the days of our lives, gaze on your beauty, and seek you in your temple. Amen.

Aaron Hinton
Director of Advancement for Christian Service and Foundations