Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
Call His Name Jesus
In Call His Name Jesus, Lutheran Hour Ministries’ Advent devotions for 2019, we encounter an oft-told story in fresh, new ways. During the Christmas season, we focus our thoughts on that moment in time when God became one of us. This miracle of miracles—this most unlikely story—begins with the Christ Child—God in the flesh—who was born poorly, humbly, vulnerably into this world of sin and darkness.
"Christmas marks the point in human history where God’s long-declared promise of redemption was fulfilled in the birth of Christ. This is the start of God’s final act to save us," said Dr. Kari Vo, theological writer for LHM and the author of this year’s devotions. The conclusion of this drama has our Savior again poor, humble, and vulnerable, as He bears the awful weight of our sins on the cross at Golgotha.
Call His Name Jesus offers excellent messages to complement a family or group Bible study. They can be received as an e-mail subscription throughout the holidays, or they can also be read online and listened to as well. Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, Speaker for The Lutheran Hour, will read them. These devotions are also available in Spanish as Le pondrás por nombre Jesús. Reflection questions help users ponder the text and provide a jumping-off place for group discussion.
What is Advent?The church divides the year into different seasons that emphasize the life of Christ and the life of the church. Beginning on Sunday, December 1, 2019, we will enter the season of the church year called Advent. Advent is the season of preparation and anticipation leading up to Christmas, and continuing to Epiphany January 6th, 2020. The focus of Advent is two-fold. On the one hand, we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who came into the world as both God and man so that our sins might be forgiven. On the other hand, we anticipate the day when Jesus will return to Earth and bring an end to this world. Those will be scary days, but we can look forward to the end of the world with hope because through faith in Jesus, the end of this world will mean the beginning of a new life with Christ for eternity. Advent, then, is a time for us to repent and believe. Knowing that Jesus was born to forgive our sins, we repent (admit our failures to God) and believe that we are forgiven because of the death and resurrection of Jesus on our behalf. Also, knowing that Jesus is coming back, we repent and believe that when He returns, He will give us eternal life. |