This week's author
Rev. Jorma Tuomisto, Pastor Emeritus
Coquitlam, British Columbia
Stepping into the Darkness
Read: John 1:4-5
Darkness is scary. A young lad had to deliver milk to nearby farms by
foot in the dark. In the daytime he knew the roads and paths well. But
in the darkness of night, he had no way of knowing where the potholes
and dips were. He had to muster up some boldness to head into the dark.
God also stepped into the darkness of our world-a world filled with
evil, sin, violence, and hate. He knew what lay ahead. There would be
hatred, suffering, scorn, and abuse. The world would be so accustomed to
the darkness, that it would not want it disturbed.
Yet, with boldness, God stepped into the darkness.
Why would He do it? He did it for us. We, the world, were engulfed by
this darkness. God knew that for this dark world there was only one
hope. To combat the darkness of sin and death, God had to be one of us-a
true man. And so, God the Son stepped into the darkness bringing with
Him light. He would destroy the powers of darkness by taking upon
Himself the sin, violence, guilt, and death that enshrouds the world. As
the fourth Advent candle is lit, we are reminded that His light has
shone in our hearts and lives, filling us with forgiveness, peace, hope,
and love.
Prayer: Thank You Lord for facing the darkness for us. Help me
testify boldly to others of Your light. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: Share God's light with someone
overwhelmed by darkness. 
Keeping Promises
Read: 2 Peter 3:3-4
Time is a strange thing. When you want it to pass quickly, it seems
to linger. When you want it to slow down, it seems to fly. Waiting is
one of the hardest things to do.
We are not a generation given to waiting. How often we are surprised,
when stopped at an intersection while driving, as the light barely turns
green and people are impatiently leaning on their horn.
Yet we must often wait. Time gets heavy on our hands.
So it did with many waiting for God to keep His promise of the
Savior. "How long, Lord? How long?" So goes the anxious cry of
the faithful, through the centuries. There were scoffers then, not
expecting God to be true to His Word. But into this world of scoffers
and complainers God was bold to keep His promise-whatever the cost. He
will not deny himself. A promise is a promise. When the time was right,
God boldly broke into history and sent His own Son to redeem us from sin
and death: "But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son,
born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law"
(Galatians 4:4-5).
Prayer: Lord, Your Word is always true. Give me faith and
patience knowing that just as You gave Your Son for me, You will provide
for all my needs. Amen
My Bold Action for Today: I will tell someone about God's
faithfulness and promise of His Son.
Doing the Unheard
Read: Luke 1:30-31
What God was about to do flies in the face of all expectations!
He picks a virgin and informs her that she will bear God's child. What an
affront to the religious leaders and to the rulers of the day. Surely God
would have chosen someone in their family for such a glorious task. But no!
He picks a humble girl-a nobody!
What's more, it's unnatural! A virgin! Whoever heard of a virgin giving
birth? That'll be talked of and against throughout the centuries. And it has
been talked about and discounted by theologians, historians, and news
commentators ever since.
What boldness on God's part to pick Mary. Yet God often chooses the
common or lowly or humble to receive His blessings and be called to serve
Him.
How thankful we, too, can be. God does not choose us because of any merit
or greatness in us ... He chooses us by His grace and will. In fact, God
chose Mary to give birth to Jesus so that in her Child we could be lifted up
to be God's children.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for sending Your Son to be born of Mary
and to be our Savior. As You chose her, so You have chosen me, though I have
in no way deserved Your grace. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: Help someone else see that God loves
them and sent His Son for them.
Bold in Weakness
Read: Luke 2:12
How should God enter our world? We would probably have lots of
suggestions. With all the terrorism and violence, we could suggest He come
with His mighty power and wrath. Or perhaps God could send a Savior who
would mightily destroy those who wreak havoc in our beautiful world. At the
very least He should come as a mighty force to destroy evil and bring peace
to the world.
But to come as a helpless baby, one of the most helpless and dependent
things in the world? How absurd! Why would God send a baby? Yet God was bold
to do just that. His plan was never to come by force and might, to win the
world for Himself. He works His plan through the weak and little things of
the world and shows His glory to us.
He enters as a weak baby, just as each of us does. But in this child He
will accomplish-yes, has accomplished-His most wondrous and glorious plan to
bring peace to men. So helpless a child, He had to flee the envy of a
violent king. But was He helpless? No! He would accomplish His purpose and
save His people from their sin: "God was reconciling the world to
Himself in Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:19).
Prayer: Lord, You are a wondrous God and Your ways are astounding.
Help me always to see Your grace working through the weak and where I would
least expect it. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: Speak up boldly for the Lord aware that
He works even through my frailty.
Embracing Everyone
Read: Luke 2:10
There have been many misconceptions about who needs the Savior. Some
think God would embrace only deserving people. Thus those who have lived a
good life are thought worthy of receiving and celebrating the holy birth.
Others feel they have been so good that they need no Savior. A lady I
visited in hospital insisted that a person who has done something really,
really bad cannot receive forgiveness from God. No doubt she meant herself.
Sadly, she died in unbelief.
The angels who proclaimed the Savior's birth said it was "good news
... for all the people." No one is excluded-not even the worst sinner.
In fact, the good news is meant particularly for people who cannot and do
not deserve God's favor-for sinners who would be otherwise lost.
Historically, people have tried to ostracize those they deem unworthy; yet
they are the very ones the Savior searches out and receives.
Does this mean those who strive to be good are excluded? Not at all! The
good news is not based upon our merits, but upon God's grace. We all need
the Savior and the angels' message is for us-each and every one of us.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You that the Savior has been
born for me and for all people. Grant that we may rejoice in Him. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: I will boldly share the joyful news that
the Savior has come for everyone.
Committed
Read: Galatians 4:4-5
Salesmen say that, for the most part, commitment is difficult. Often he
or she thinks an item is sold, only to have the customer turn around and
balk at signing on the bottom line. Many would prefer living with a partner
rather than committing to marriage. Then there are those who enjoy
church-hopping rather than committing to one particular church.
Commitment is seen as tying us down rather than providing freedom to live
and serve. In an amazing way, God has committed Himself to us. He did it
already in His promises through the centuries. But the extent of His
commitment is seen in the giving of His Son for us.
What more could He do? What more could He give?
His commitment to us cost Him, but He was willing to pay the price. That
is how committed He is to us. The Savior, the eternal Son of God, is also
totally committed. He was born under the law to redeem us. His commitment is
seen clearly as we realize what it took to reconcile us with God.
He commits Himself to become obedient unto death, even the death on the
cross-for us!
Prayer: Lord I'm amazed at Your commitment to sinners such as I.
But I thank You for loving us so much that You gave Your Son for us. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: I will boldly commit myself to serve God
and commit myself to care for my neighbors and loved ones enough to share
God's love with them.
The Grace of God with Us
Read: Luke 2:7
What an affront to the Son of God! He leaves the glories of heaven
to be born a human, so He might share the glories of heaven with us. But
look where He must be born-in a stable. There is no room for Him in the
inn. People were too busy with their own business to pay any attention
to Him.
So it is today. There is a lot of business going on and people's
lives are inundated with claims upon their time, attention, and wallets.
For many, Christmas has become nothing more than a "Winter
Festival." There is no room for the baby in the manger. Some would
like to do away with Him entirely, just as Herod tried to do!
In view of this, it is amazing that God would be gracious to such
ingrates as us. But God does not waver in His commitment. In His plan to
save us from our sins and weaknesses, and from death itself, He allows
His holy Son to be born in a filthy stable and laid to sleep in the
cattle-feeding trough. Still He loves the unlovable and forgives the
unforgivable, because He is a gracious God.
Prayer: Lord, may I always have room for You at the very
center and core of my being. Amen.
My Bold Action for Today: I shall boldly embrace Jesus as My
Lord and Savior and hold Him up for all to see.
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