Yesterday we reflected on God’s actions toward humanity and creation. Today we reflect on humanity’s response to God’s mercy and our receipt of God’s holiness. Psalm 25:4, 5, 8-10 mention the psalmist’s desire to know God’s paths, truth, and way in order to keep God’s covenant. While we can do nothing to earn God’s steadfast love and mercy beyond accepting that love, we may desire to grow in love and relationship with God. Growing in love and relationship with God and others as a Christian disciple is often described in relationship to the doctrine of “sanctification.”
For John Wesley, the doctrine of sanctification indicates the work of God in us by the Holy Spirit facilitating a new creation by granting us holiness of heart and life. While God solely enacts sanctification, or the granting of God’s holiness in us, God invites our participation through love of God and neighbor.
In verses 8-10 we read that God “instructs sinners in the way,” “leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way.” This is God’s work in us through sanctification: keeping God’s covenant by practicing love for God and neighbor and allowing the Holy Spirit to make us a new creation.
Reflect upon the Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification in your life. How are you called to love of God and neighbor? How are these practices creating holiness of heart and life in you?
In prayer, give thanks to God and ask for God’s leading in your continued efforts to love God and neighbor and to follow God’s paths.
As we prepare our hearts for Advent, the celebration of Jesus’ first coming, we remember in Jeremiah that the birth of Jesus has a deep background, a background rooted in God’s promise to David. Psalm 25, traditionally credited to David, speaks of God’s faithfulness to those who follow the paths of the Lord. David asks God to teach him to follow God’s paths even more closely. The New Testament readings actually point us toward Jesus’ second coming. Paul encourages the Thessalonians to excel in holiness and love while they wait. In Luke, Jesus discusses the coming of the kingdom in a passage that some find confusing. We note that he focuses not on the exact time frame of the arrival of the kingdom but on our need to be alert.
• Read Jeremiah 33:14-16. What has been your experience with a promise-making and promise-keeping God?
• Read Psalm 25:1-10. How do you perceive God’s instruction in your life?
• Read 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13. How has God’s presence buoyed you up in times of persecution or distress?
• Read Luke 21:25-36. What is your Advent posture this year? If “believing is seeing” were true in your life, what would you see?
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