Advent Devotions December 4

It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now as always in my body, whether by life or by death.

For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you.

The greetings Paul brings to the Philippians makes them aware of his current situation and the hopes that he has for them. The hope that he speaks of is the hope that we have for the world and one that rings louder during our time of Advent. We wait anxiously for the coming of Christ, and in the midst of the violence that we hear about daily it is nice to hear Paul’s words knowing that in Christ is gain.

The boldness in which Paul speaks should be an example for the world today as we boldly proclaim the Gospel in our communities. We must not be ashamed of the message that we have to share and shall remember that Jesus too was not welcome in his hometown of Nazareth. The hope that comes to us in the Word is one that needs to be loudly proclaimed in the midst of everything that occurs in our world today.

Empowering God, we ask for boldness today as we go out to proclaim your Gospel and ask that you may lead and guide us on the path. May the hope that breaks through during Advent enliven us to preach boldly. AMEN.