Friday after Ad te levavi, The First Sunday in Advent
Scripture: Hebrews 2:1-4 (NKJV)
2:1 Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?
Devotion
Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Hebrews likewise pleads, “we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.” God wants none to lose their hope and confidence in His promises and redemption through Jesus Christ.
Faithful pastors must be about announcing the good news, how every transgression and disobedience has been forgiven through Christ crucified, rather than saying man has a duty to finish what Christ began through his own works or repentance. It is the kindness of God and power of His Holy Spirit that leads a man to repentance, to daily drown the old man and come forth and live anew.
God works through His Word and Sacraments to plant faith in man so he may believe and be saved! Continually hearing Christ’s Word, remembering His blessings poured out on us in Baptism, and receiving His Body and Blood to strengthen our faith is sufficient. We receive His reward of grace, earned by His death, so that we do not lose heart and drift away!
We pray: Stir up, we beseech Thee, Thy power, O Lord, and come, that by Thy protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Thy mighty deliverance; who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
