This week's author:
Rev. John Trembulak III, Pastor
Zion Lutheran Church, Dashwood, Ontario
and Berea-by-the-Sea, Goderich, Ontario
God Tests Us
Read: Genesis 22:1
I dreaded tests. Just when I thought I knew my stuff and was prepared
to repeat what I was taught-disaster would strike. I would draw a blank
and was doomed. It wasn't the teachers' fault, but I still blamed them,
accusing them of using trick questions or not telling me something was
going to be on the test.
The same thing happens in life when we are tested. Some people become
so confused and flustered they feel they're doomed. Some even begin to
resent God. In despair and frustration they turn on Him, then go a
different way.
That's not God's intention. Luther reminds us that God tests us
"to bring us closer to Himself." Abraham committed himself
fully to the Lord. He trusted God totally for everything and one day
God, in His boldness, decided to test him. The test confused Abraham.
God asked him to sacrifice his son. God supposedly loved Abraham, yet He
asked him to kill his precious son. Why? Some scholars suggest God knew
that Abraham was in danger of loving his son more than his God. The test
would make him look closely at his life and arrange his priorities
properly. This may seem harsh, but when faith and salvation are at stake
God wants to draw us close to Him. As we begin the second week in
Advent, where are your priorities?
Prayer: Almighty Father, we know testing brings us close to
You. Give us the grace to see Your hand in these times and place our
faith and trust in Your care. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: Encourage someone who is struggling
to remember that when God tests us He is with us, drawing us to
Him. 
God Disciplines
Read: Psalm 89:32-33
How many times do parents have to say no? If your children are
anything like mine, once isn't always enough. Unfortunately, sometimes
it takes several corrections and maybe even some sort of punishment
before they understand. God's people were the same way. Throughout the
Old Testament we see God's people in bondage whether by the Assyrians,
the Babylonians, or walking through the desert for 40 years. Why did
God's chosen people suffer? Why do seemingly bad things happen to
seemingly good people? Before the bondage or wilderness journey the
Israelites were misbehaving. Even after all God had done for them, they
forgot quickly and fell back into their old ways, dismissing God's
commands.
Nothing has changed since the fall in the Garden of Eden. People keep
going their own way even after God draws them close. We still wander and
God still disciplines. We don't walk in the desert for 40 years, we are
not in physical bondage, but God at times allows us to go our own way
and when we do, without Him in our lives, we suffer. Sin overwhelms. Our
wandering created the necessity for a Savior. God, in love, knew the
need and filled it. The ultimate discipline we deserve was taken on by
the promised Savior ... for you and for me.
Prayer: Lord God, help us realize that when You discipline us,
it is to bring us back to You and Your Will. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: Speak a word of encouragement to
someone who is struggling with anger towards God for all the seemingly
bad things happening in their life.
God Instills Leadership
Read: 1 Chronicles 28:20
Are you a leader, a follower, or a little of both? It's hard to find
leaders. Most will agree to serve on a church board, but when we ask who
will chair, no one is eager to sign up. Why? The usual answer is they feel
unqualified. They are glad to follow and do what needs to be done, but
having the vision and leading the group is more than many want to do.
Are you like that? Do you find leadership an overwhelming task beyond
your reach? I want to encourage you by letting you in on a secret-you can do
it because God has proven you can. After all, look who God used: Moses said,
"Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of
Egypt?" (Exodus 3:11). Young Joshua led God's people to the Promised
Land. Solomon inspired God's people to build the temple. And God uses you
and me to lead His people in the faith. No doubt it's a daunting task, but
we are not alone in what we do. When our Lord, in His boldness, instills and
blesses our leadership, great and wonderful things happen to His glory.
Where is your Advent heart calling you to serve?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, use us in service as You see fit. If You
call us to leadership we pray You give the gifts needed to fulfill the task.
Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: See where the ministry in your
congregation is in need and offer to serve.
God Inspires Fearlessness
Read: 1 Kings 18:18
Do you like to be told you've done something wrong or reminded of past
mistakes? Of course not! Whether one or one hundred years old, the last
thing we want is criticism.
Why do so many reject God and His love for creation or want nothing to do
with His church and the message we proclaim? No one likes to hear the
three-letter word S-I-N. It makes people feel uncomfortable. And no one
likes to feel less than perfect. Luther wrote, "God desires us to keep
His commandments perfectly in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds." Can
you or anyone you know do that?
David wrote, "I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother
conceived me" (Psalm 51:5). Sinfulness is in our very being; it is why
God needed to send His Son, and only repentance and faith in the Savior
wipes it away. The Law's conviction drives us to repentance. Were it not for
sin, Christ would not need to have been born as Savior. The Law must be
proclaimed for the sweetness of the Gospel to make any impact. But
proclaiming the Law takes fearlessness-fearlessness when we are accused of
being too hard, rigid, or strict. Fearlessness is a gift from God so we can
share His unbounded love with those we meet.
Prayer: Lord God, instill in us the fearlessness needed to
proclaim Your commands. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: Print two copies of the Ten
Commandments. Place one in a prominent spot in your house and share one with
a friend. Use it to remind you of the Law of God.
God Inspires Bravery
Read: Judges 6:16
Bravery is a common theme throughout Scripture. Joshua led the Israelites
into the Promised Land; Gideon saved Israel from the Midianites; David
fought Goliath; Nehemiah led the Israelites from bondage and rebuilt the
walls of Jerusalem; Esther approached the king despite it being against the
law. These are just a few in whom God inspired bravery.
In wartime soldiers fight for what they believe is right. Families and
friends support them and look forward to a time of peace. It's easier to be
brave if you are confident about what you stand for and others back your
position. Why is it easy to be brave in worldly things, but when it comes to
the war on our faith we shy away? When faced with overwhelming opposition,
our biblical examples carried on, not because they were so strong, but
because God was with them. He gave them the words, the strength, and the
certainty that what they were doing was His will.
We have the task of spreading the Good News. There is no doubt we face
overwhelming opposition. However, God has called us in His love and gives us
what we need for the task. And He has promised, "I will be with
you." When we use the strength God provides in His Word and Sacraments
and then engage the support of fellow believers, we shall overcome!
Prayer: Lord God, we ask for steadfastness in our conviction of
Your support and love for us in these days of Advent. Give us, we pray, the
words and the bravery needed to proclaim Your love and protection to all.
Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: When faced with criticism of your faith
and hope, bravely share why you are so sure.
God Inspires Confidence to the End
Read: Psalm 23:4,6
Psalm 23 is one of the most popular texts from Scripture. Has the
confidence David expresses in these words ever amazed you? Here was a man
who had experienced many ups and downs in life. He had been through wars,
trials, and temptations and even after all this he knew he was not alone in
the journey. David believed God, in His love and boldness, was there and
would be to the end.
Maybe this is why we often hear this psalm at funerals. In the midst of
grief we need encouragement. And at those times we can reflect on life,
seeing how God has been with us every step of the way.
As we reflect on God's Advent promises, we also draw comfort from these
very words. There is something encouraging and comforting in knowing that
"even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil, for You are with me ... and I will dwell in the house of the
LORD forever."
Prayer: Lord God, Heavenly Father, thank You for the confidence I
have that no matter what happens in life-even death-You are always with me.
Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: Encourage someone you know who is in the
midst of sorrow over the death of a loved one. Inspire them with your
God-given gift of confidence.
God Inspires Love
Read: Genesis 3:15
You don't have to wait until 1 Corinthians 13 to read about love.
You don't even have to wait until John 3:16 to hear about God's love.
Did you know that the love of God is seen way back in Genesis? And this
announcement and example of love is amazing.
Picture it. God's creation, Adam and Eve, have just disobeyed God.
They have destroyed the perfection of paradise. God disciplines them,
yet He doesn't leave them in their punishment. He promises one will come
who will defeat sin and Satan. God's love is so contrary to our human
nature. Our nature says: Adam and Eve messed everything up so they get
what they deserve. If they sin, "The wages of sin is death"
(Romans 6:23). Thank God He doesn't feel this way. If He did we would
all be doomed. God knew His creation just couldn't do it on their own.
The need for a Savior is abundantly clear. So in His time, He sent
Jesus, His only Son. This is what Advent is all about-waiting in eager
expectation to again rejoice in the coming of our Savior. The ultimate
expression of God's love.
Prayer: Thank You Lord God, Heavenly Father, for loving us so
much that through all of history and despite all the shortcomings of
humankind, You did not turn Your heart from sending into our midst the
Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: Invite someone to join you in
worship tomorrow as you wait expectantly.
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