The Magnificat
Advent is a season of waiting, but in this final week, our anticipation turns to joy and proclamation. Mary’s song, the Magnificat, offers a profound glimpse into how God works through humble people to fulfill His promises. Her words invite us to magnify the Lord and to live in alignment with God’s transformative vision for the world.
Preparing with purpose
In the years and months before Jesus’ arrival in the world, John the Baptist preaches with intensity and urgency, but his words are a call to a real, joyful transformation. Today, John lays out for us three ways to prepare this Advent with purpose: through repentance, generosity, and hope.
The dawn of a new day
During long nights with a baby that just won’t sleep, it can be difficult to see the end of it. But, when the dawn starts to break, there is hope that it’ll all be OK. There will still be a new day in front of us. There will be a tomorrow, and there is a chance it’ll be better than today was. This is the kind of hope that Jesus brings into the world.
Living in hopeful anticipation
Advent begins with the theme of anticipation—not just for Christmas, but for the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises. In a world filled with anxiety and uncertainty, Christ calls us to live in hopeful anticipation as we watch for His redemption.
The Lord reigns
God’s people can live with complete confidence in our Lord’s complete authority over all things, His redemptive work which we are privileged to participate in, and His return as judge and king over all the world.
Confidence in calamity
Because of Christ, we have confidence in God’s presence, we hold firmly to the hope we have because it is a sure hope, and that meeting together as God’s people is critical as we daily live out our faith.
Less is more
Our world says more is more. Our culture says more is more. Churches can say more is more. It’s pretty hard to swim against such a strong tide, yet that is exactly what Jesus calls us to today. He says: less is more.
No longer slaves
Just as the Reformation was an attempt to return the Church to the truth of the gospel, we need constant reminding and continual help to return to the freedom that Christ offers us.
The real GOAT
In sport, we talk about the “Greatest of All Time” or “GOAT” in terms of statistics or achievement. Jesus challenges this idea of greatness, showing us that true greatness is not about achievement or accolades, but sacrifice and service.
Wisdom from above
We are continuing on our journey through the Book of James, picking up the end of chapter 3 and the start of chapter 4. Here, James describes for us what true wisdom is, and just how different worldly wisdom and heavenly wisdom are.
Small but mighty
Like a ship's rudder or a spark that starts a bushfire, the tongue has immense power to influence and to destroy, but also to bless.
Living faith
God produces faith in us by His Holy Spirit through the specific means of Word and the sacraments. That faith, just like anything that is living, needs to be sustained and kept alive. Thankfully for us, the same Spirit that produces faith also sustains it.
Real religion
Today, we begin a five-week stretch in the Book of James. His letter, written to Gentile Christians scattered all around the Middle East, addresses some things that are very relevant for us even today: religion, who God is, and who we are.
The moment of truth
The world is turning away from Jesus more and more. As people walk away from Him and from His Church, He asks us: “Do you want to leave me, too?” May the Spirit give us the same faith that Peter had: “Lord, to whom can we go?” Even though, from our perspective, the way forward is unclear and uncertain, may we stay with Him and follow where He leads, knowing that He is the true bread from heaven that gives life to the world.
Walk this way
Paul points out to us that we should walk carefully because the days are evil, that understanding the Lord’s will for us will help us to walk on the right path, and that being filled with the Spirit will influence our walk of life in Christ.
I will raise him up
This promise of resurrection is absolutely central to the Christian faith. In the Nicene Creed, we even say that “the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come” are something we “look for”. It is the end goal of our faith, the primary objective, the thing that we are always directed toward.
True bread
Our physical and spiritual bread are two entirely different things and they meet entirely different (though both critical) needs. When we have both of these kinds of bread, life can be sustained. Jesus tells us where we can find both.
Tough truths and people-pleasers
What can we possibly learn from such a damaged family, a terrible king, and how he corners himself into beheading one of the greatest prophets to have ever lived? Where is the good news in any of that?
Ministry done Jesus’ way
God has graciously given us the gift of faith so that we get to work. That work is to share the good news. Proclaim the gospel. Bring people to faith. We call usually call this work “ministry”.
Peace and quiet
When we face difficult challenges in life, sometimes the best thing is to stop speaking. May we quietly wait for the Lord’s salvation to come in our suffering and, finally, when Christ returns.