The things that have been fulfilled among us. Luke 1:1

SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Advent reminds us of all God has fulfilled in Christ’s coming to this earth, all He fulfills now through Word and Sacrament, and all to be fulfilled until, and when, Jesus comes again. He continues to fulfill His purposes among us and through us.

THE JOURNEY—DAY 1
Bill Wood and his wife, Julie, strolled across the parking lot after Sunday worship. The pastor had spoken about God’s fulfilled, and yet to be fulfilled, work in this world. He gave the church members an “Advent Challenge”—“to give somebody the gift of Jesus for Christmas.” These words kept ringing in Bill’s ears: “Do you know someone who doesn’t believe in Jesus?”

Bill thought about all God had fulfilled in his life—salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus and his place in God’s family. He had been raised in a Christian home. He met Julie at a campus ministry in college. They had two children. He felt so blessed.

Now he was thinking about things to be fulfilled—Jesus’ coming on the Last Day, the mission of taking the Gospel to all people, and every Christian witnessing about Jesus to unchurched and unbelieving people. Bill had not thought much about these things. Now he had been challenged “to give somebody the gift of Jesus for Christmas.”

Bill wondered, “Can I do this?” He pondered, “Shouldn’t everybody have a life fulfilled in Jesus? Who do I know …” Just then, Bill’s 14-year-old son, Sam, came across the parking lot exclaiming, “Where are we going for lunch?!”

REALITY JOURNEY
Do you know someone who doesn’t believe in Jesus as Savior, or has fallen away from the church? Take the “Advent Challenge” to give him or her the gift of Jesus for Christmas.

PRAYER FOCUS
Pray for God to open doors for you to speak the Gospel message of Christ to that person.

Today's Bible Readings: Ezekiel 37-39    2 Peter 2

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