“God looks at our hearts, not our outward appearances, as he showed when choosing David as king, prefiguring Christ (1 Samuel 16:1-13). Like David, we trust God; we have confidence in his protection even when we are in the midst of great difficulty (Psalm 23). The light of Christ’s grace and forgiveness dispels the darkness of sin (Ephesians 5:8-14) — he is the light of the world (John 9:1-41).” – Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional
“Water is used throughout Scripture as a symbol of faith. In the Old Testament, it sometimes foreshadows Christ’s sacrifice for our sins (Exodus 17:1-7). In the New Testament, Jesus offers forgiveness to all, regardless of race or past misdeeds, and ‘living water,’ which is the Holy Spirit and eternal life (John 4:5-42). Through his death, we are reconciled to God (Romans 5:1-11), our Creator and King, to whom we offer praise and thanks for our salvation (Psalm 95).” – Thomas Oden, Ancient Christian Devotional
Like Abraham, we are called to follow God in faith (Gen. 12:1-4). We must keep our eyes fixed on the one who made heaven and earth (Psalm 121). God cares for us and has promised to provide rest and grace for those who put their faith in him (Romans 4:1-5,13-17). God came to us through Jesus so that we might be made new and inherit eternal life through his name (John 3:1-17).
Remedy Against Sin “Adam succumbed to temptation and brought sin on all generations of people (Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7). We confess our sin and rejoice in God’s forgiveness (Psalm 32). Just as Adam’s sin brought sin on all humankind, so is Christ’s redemption of sin available for all (Romans 5:12-19), because Jesus alone was able to resist temptation (Matthew 4:1-11).”
“To look with lust violates relationships. To swear an oath disguises God’s mercy. The law of God is a pattern against pretense. It affects how we perceive others, the relationships that we enter, and what comes forth from our mouths. The lesson is twofold: let how we behave be obedient, and let what we say have integrity.”
Light to the Nations “God promises us that his salvation will reach to the end of the earth (Is 49:1-7); he sent his only son Jesus, to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29-42). Because of God’s grace and mercy toward us, we put our trust in him (Psalm 40:1-11) and look to the second coming of Christ (1 Corinthians 1:1-9). “ – Thomas Oden in Ancient Christian Devotional
Dawning Light of Our Salvation God is faithful to execute justice on behalf of the humble and oppressed (Psalm 146:5-10 & Luke 1:46b-65). Even in the wilderness, those who hope in the Lord can be strong and celebrate the future return of Jesus (Isaiah 35:1-10). We wait patiently for the time of his reappearance knowing that the coming of the Lord is near. Suffer well and encourage one another (James 5:7-10). The dawning light of our salvation has already appeared through Jesus Christ. His first coming assures his people of their final victory (Matthew 11:2-11).
Isaiah 35:1-10 Psalm 146:5-10 James 5:7-10 Matthew 11:2-11
We look forward to Christ’s second coming (Mal 4:1-2a) and the promise of new heavens and earth (Isaiah 65:17-25). God is our salvation (Isaiah 12) during times of judgment (Malachi 4:-12a) and has done marvelous things worthy of praise (Psalm 98). In anticipation of future glory, we should continue working hard and doing what is right (2 Thessalonians 3:6-13). Stay alert during times of persecution and confusion. Stand firm in the confidence that God will protect and care for his people (Luke 21:5-19).
Eternity and Resurrection “We know that our Redeemer lives (Job 19:23-27a)! We walk in the paths of righteousness, always kept close by the Lord in “the shadow of his wings” (Psalm 17:1-9). We give thanks to him (2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17) and look forward to being resurrected and living with him (Luke 20:27-38).” – Thomas Oden, in Ancient Christian Devotional
Walking the Talk We should do good, seek justice, defend the fatherless and care for the widow (Isaiah 1:10-18). We confess our sins and give thanks that God fogives us (Psalm 32:1-7), pray that we will be worthy of God’s calling (2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12) and are thankful that Christ came to save the lost (Luke 19:1-10). – Thomas Oden in Ancient Christian Devotional
