Advent Devotion for December 22, 2019 from Apostles By-the-Sea - Episode 22

Week 4: God Keeps His Promises

 

Sunday, December 22, 2019

 

Readings:

Isaiah 7:10-16

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

Romans 1:1-7

Matthew 1:18-25

 

Reflection on this week’s readings:

On the fourth Sunday of Advent, we celebrate God’s faithfulness in sending His Son, and we remember God’s faithfulness as we look forward to Christ’s second coming. Sunday’s readings focus on the coming of the Messiah who fulfills God’s covenant with David, brings salvation for all people, and ushers in the eternal reign of God on earth. God promises that he will make for David a great name, give his people eternal rest from enemies, and give him an everlasting kingdom (Isaiah 7:9). These promises are fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, who was “declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead” (Romans 1:2). The good news is that God has been faithful to his promise in sending Jesus Christ, and in the Gospel reading we see this promise fulfilled: “Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” (Matthew 1:23, from Isaiah 7:14). God keeps his promises!

 

Collect for the Fourth Week of Advent:

Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.