Multimedia Advent Devotional – Week 2-4, Wednesday
2023:
Week 2, Wednesday:
- Scripture – Matthew 11:28-30 (Declan)
- Reflection (Nancy Penton)
- Prayer (Scott Mayhue)
- Artwork: “Adoration of the Shepherds” (Peter Paul Rubens)
- Music: “I Will Give You Rest” (Peter Huxtable) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bClzC6sJreM
Each short Multimedia Advent Devotional is an invitation to set aside time each day during a typically busy season preparing for Christmas to rejoice in the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus, and to respond to God’s invitation to us to join with Him in what He’s doing today.
Advent is a season of the liturgical year observed in most Christian denominations as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity and is part of the wider Christmas and holiday season.
This collaboration is brought to you by Liberty Vineyard Church
2022:
Week 2, Wednesday:
- Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-4 (Judi Campbell)
- Reflection (Karen Sculley)
- Prayer (Michael Sculley)
- Artwork: “Justice and Peace Kissing” (Gotha, Germany)
- Music: “Creator of the Stars of Night” (ILP Music) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0-BMlRoE3M
Each short Multimedia Advent Devotional is an invitation to set aside time each day during a typically busy season preparing for Christmas to rejoice in the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus, and to respond to God’s invitation to us to join with Him in what He’s doing today.
Advent is a season of the liturgical year observed in most Christian denominations as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for both the celebration of the Nativity of Christ at Christmas and the return of Christ at the Second Coming. Advent is the beginning of the liturgical year in Western Christianity and is part of the wider Christmas and holiday season.
This collaboration is brought to you by Liberty Vineyard Church
Reflection:
Isaiah 61:1-4 (NKJV) – “‘The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.’ And they shall rebuild the old ruins, They shall raise up the former desolations, And they shall repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.”
This well-known prophecy anticipating the coming of Messiah was written over 700 years before Jesus Christ was born. Thirty years later, Jesus went into the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth, read the first part of this passage aloud, then announced, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
God anointed Jesus to give good tidings, healing, liberty, freedom, God’s favor, comfort, consolation, beauty, joy, praise, righteousness, growth, rebuilding, and to defeat evil. When Messiah arrived, everything changed, abundant life arrived! I am particularly drawn to the image of a garden planted by the Lord. God has given us a corner of His garden to tend. As we live the life of Christ and work with Him to beautify our small corner, God is glorified! After all, God has made everything beautiful in its time. Messiah has come! Oh, come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
