Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of North America

Saturday after the Second Sunday in Advent

Posted on December 13, 2014 by Pastor Dulas under Devotions
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Scripture: Colossians 3:1-11 (NKJV)

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. 5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11 where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

Devotion

The season of Advent is brief, but the mindset of Advent is to be the Christian’s mindset at all times: We have nothing but sin and shame to claim as our own. We deserve to be forever doomed to destruction together with this world. But we have been baptized into Christ. Christ is our life. And Christ is coming soon. So, even though we still live on this earth for a little while longer, our true life is not here.

Thus Paul urges us to live out our earthly days accordingly. If our true life is in Heaven, wrapped up with Christ, soon to be revealed, then it is time to get rid of the things that our old man lives for here below. It is time to put to death those old sinful passions and practices, those priorities that are so important to the sons of disobedience, but that hinder the Christian’s sanctification. Christians should not be deceived into thinking they can hold onto their faith and salvation “even though they indulge their wicked lusts without fear and shame, resist the Holy Spirit, and purposely engage in sins against conscience.”

Instead, as children of light, as sons of the day, as those who have put off the old man and have put on the new, let us also put off the old ways of the old man and grow up into the image of Christ, Who is all and in all.

Collect: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your Only-Begotten Son, so that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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