20 December: O Emmanuel (O God With Us)

O Emmanuel, Rex et legifer noster, exspectatio Gentium, et Salvator earum:

veni ad salvandum nos, Domine, Deus noster.

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver, the hope of the nations and their Savior:

Come and save us, O Lord our God.

The Uncreated One has wrapped Himself in creation - flesh and bone.  Entering into our world, He is God with us, God among us, God for us.  While still fully God, Christ obediently empties Himself and humbles Himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men (Phil 2:6-8).  He was among us, but we did not know Him, or receive Him, and would ultimately put God among us to death.  Yet, in Jesus ‘all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell’ - among us (Col 1:19).  

And He is coming again to dwell among His people, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God himself will be with them as their God.’” - Revelation 21:3

In accordance with his promise,
we wait for new heavens and a new earth,
where righteousness is at home.
Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. 

—2 Peter 3:13-15, NRSV 

God of Israel,
with expectant hearts
we your people await Christ’s coming. As once he came in humility,
so now may he come in glory,
that he may make all things perfect
in your everlasting kingdom.
For he is Lord for ever and ever. Amen.  

(From the Worship Sourcebook)

To download a complete PDF of the O Antiphon Advent Devotional, click here.

August 11: Tuesday Refocus

‘When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.’ - Isaiah 43:2

Maybe these months have felt like being thrown into a fire, or plunged into a flood.  Right here is where the Savior says, ‘I will be with you.’  The One who saves is the One who is with us (Matt 1:21-23).

As Elisabeth Elliot reminds us, ‘Out of the deepest waters and the hottest fires have come the deepest things that I know about God.’  Even hindsight may not provide the kind of clarity and validation of excruciating circumstance, but I believe that even in the middle of the pain we can know the withness of God.

We are never abandoned, forsaken or left as orphans (Ps 16:10, Ps 138:8, Jn 14:18).  Hear the words of the Savior and believe: ‘And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’  Matt 28:20

Lord, ‘I call to You from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength.  Lead me to the rock that is high above me…’ (Ps 61:2, HCSB), in the name of the One who is always with me, amen.

Learning, 

AB

November 5: Tuesday Refocus

‘No one ever comes very close to God and remains proud.’ – Alan Nelson

‘Draw near,’ is the invitation James tells us is always met with God, in turn, drawing near (4:8).  As followers of Christ we can draw near with confidence (Heb 4:16).  But make no mistake this confidence is not in our own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor 5:21).

As we draw near we find grace and mercy, yet still fall down as though dead (Heb 4:16, Rev 1:17).  Because no one ever draws near to God and remains proud.  But do not be afraid – His nearness is your good (Ps 73:28). 

‘When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead.  But He laid His right hand on me, saying, ‘Fear not, I am the First and the Last, and the Living One.  I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.’ – Revelation 1:17

Lord, You know the proud from afar, but regard the lowly.  Help us draw near with full confidence in the completed work of Christ.  Thank you for being Emmanuel, the God who is with us.  We are humbled and grateful, in Christ name, amen.

Draw near,

AB