Advent 2024 -Week 1
December 1, 2024 / First Baptist Church ElginAdvent Devotional
Day 1: The Promise of Redemption
Scripture: Genesis 3:1-5, 14-15
Summary:
After humanity’s fall into sin, God’s promise of redemption shines through. In Genesis 3:15, we see the first prophecy of Christ’s victory over Satan. This verse reminds us that Advent begins with the anticipation of God’s plan to save His people.
Background:
The serpent’s deception led to humanity’s rebellion against God, breaking the fellowship between Creator and creation. Yet, God’s response was not immediate judgment but a promise—one who would crush the serpent’s head, foreshadowing Jesus Christ.
Key Words:
- Serpent: Represents Satan, the deceiver and accuser.
- Enmity: The ongoing conflict between humanity and the forces of evil.
- Crush: A prophecy of Christ’s ultimate victory over sin and Satan.
Theological Truths:
John Calvin writes, “Though in the first Adam we all fell, God provided the second Adam to restore us, crushing the serpent and conquering sin.”
Questions for Reflection:
- How does God’s promise in Genesis 3:15 point to His redemptive plan in Jesus?
- Why is it significant that God gave hope even as He pronounced judgment?
- How does this passage deepen your appreciation for Christ’s victory over sin?
Application:
Take time today to reflect on areas in your life where you need to remember Christ’s victory. Ask God to help you live with confidence in His redemptive power.
Day 2: Faith in the Promise
Scripture: Genesis 15:1-6
Summary:
God reaffirms His covenant with Abram, promising descendants as numerous as the stars. Abram’s faith is counted as righteousness, foreshadowing the way all believers are justified by faith in Christ.
Background:
Abram was childless and old when God promised him offspring and a great nation. This covenant required faith in God’s ability to fulfill His promises, a key theme throughout Scripture and central to the Advent season.
Key Words:
- Covenant: A sacred agreement initiated by God.
- Righteousness: Right standing before God, granted by faith, not works.
- Stars: A symbol of God’s infinite ability to fulfill His promises.
Theological Truths:
Charles Spurgeon said, “Faith is the eye which sees the unseen, the hand which grasps the intangible, and the evidence of the eternal.”
Questions for Reflection:
- What does it mean for faith to be “credited as righteousness”?
- How does Abram’s trust in God’s promise inspire your own faith journey?
- In what ways does Advent strengthen your confidence in God’s promises?
Application:
Identify one promise of God that you struggle to believe fully. Commit it to prayer, asking for a faith like Abram’s to trust God’s timing and provision.
Day 3: Joy in Fulfillment
Scripture: Genesis 21:1-6
Summary:
God fulfills His promise to Abraham and Sarah with the birth of Isaac, whose name means “laughter.” Isaac’s birth brings joy and reminds us that God’s faithfulness transforms doubt into celebration.
Background:
Sarah had laughed in disbelief when she first heard God’s promise of a child, given her age. Now, her laughter becomes one of joy as she holds the child of promise—a precursor to the ultimate joy found in Jesus Christ.
Key Words:
- Isaac: Means “laughter,” symbolizing joy and God’s fulfilled promise.
- Fulfillment: God’s faithfulness to keep His word, no matter how unlikely it seems.
- Joy: The deep, abiding gladness rooted in God’s faithfulness.
Theological Truths:
J.I. Packer wrote, “The Christmas message is that there is hope for a ruined humanity—hope of pardon, hope of peace with God, hope of glory—because at the Father’s will Jesus became poor and was born in a stable.”
Questions for Reflection:
- How does Sarah’s laughter remind you of times when God turned your doubts into joy?
- What does Isaac’s birth teach us about waiting for God’s promises?
- How does the Advent season fill you with joy in God’s faithfulness?
Application:
Celebrate God’s faithfulness today by writing down three promises He has fulfilled in your life. Share one with a friend to encourage their faith.
Day 4: God’s Presence and Promise
Scripture: Genesis 28:10-17
Summary:
In a dream, Jacob sees a ladder connecting heaven and earth, with angels ascending and descending. This vision reaffirms God’s presence and promises to Jacob, pointing forward to Jesus as the bridge between God and humanity.
Background:
Jacob was fleeing from his brother Esau when he encountered God in a dream. The ladder symbolizes the connection between heaven and earth, fulfilled in Jesus, who restores fellowship between God and His people.
Key Words:
- Ladder: A symbol of access to heaven, fulfilled in Christ.
- Promise: God’s covenant blessings extended to Jacob.
- Bethel: Means “house of God,” signifying God’s presence with His people.
Theological Truths:
Augustine observed, “Christ is the ladder by which we ascend to heaven. His incarnation has made the connection between God and man.”
Questions for Reflection:
- How does Jacob’s dream point to Jesus as the bridge between heaven and earth?
- What does this passage teach us about God’s presence in times of fear or uncertainty?
- How does the Advent season remind you of God’s promise to be with His people?
Application:
Spend time in prayer today, thanking God for His presence in your life. Ask Him to help you recognize His faithfulness even in challenging circumstances.
Day 5: God’s Deliverance
Scripture: Exodus 3:4-10
Summary:
God calls Moses to deliver His people from slavery in Egypt, revealing His heart for redemption. Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush reminds us of God’s plan to free His people through Jesus.
Background:
The Israelites had been enslaved for 400 years when God called Moses to lead their deliverance. This act of redemption foreshadows Christ’s mission to free humanity from the slavery of sin.
Key Words:
- Burning bush: A symbol of God’s holiness and presence.
- Deliverance: God’s rescue of His people from bondage.
- I AM: God’s eternal, self-existent nature.
Theological Truths:
R.C. Sproul wrote, “The Lord delivers His people not only to free them but to bring them into fellowship with Himself.”
Questions for Reflection:
- How does Moses’ calling foreshadow Jesus’ mission to deliver humanity from sin?
- What does God’s self-revelation as “I AM” teach you about His character?
- How does the Advent season deepen your understanding of God’s deliverance?
Application:
Reflect on how God has delivered you spiritually or physically in the past. Share your story with someone as a testimony to His faithfulness.