Today, for the final time in our series, we welcome Pastor Eric Brooks from Strathcona Baptist Church. I would like to thank Eric for his great contributions to this Advent series.
Day 17 reading: John 1:9-13
(Photo by Alexandra Mitache on Unsplash)
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”
A Prayer:
Father in Heaven,
We call you Father because that is who you are! We have received Jesus, your Son, our Saviour, and by his sacrifice and invitation, we have become your children. You are our Creator, our King, our Judge, our Saviour, and greatest of all, you are our Father!
So as your children we come to you. We come to receive from you: your forgiveness, your cleansing, your blessings, your love, your Spirit. We receive from you what cannot be taken away. We receive from you what will not spoil or fade or decay. We receive Jesus, your One and Only Son. We receive his salvation, his righteousness, his Light. And in gratitude we give to you the only thing we have to offer: we give you ourselves. We give you heart, soul, mind and strength. We offer ourselves as a living sacrifice! Oh, Father, we worship you!
Spirit of God, even as we receive Jesus this Advent and Christmas, soften our hearts also to receive the stranger, the outcast, the lowly, the ones in the edges and margins. Soften our hearts to receive the widow and the orphan, the poor and the hungry, the lost and the wandering, the refugee and the homeless. Open our eyes to see you, Jesus, when we see our neighbour, and when we see our enemy, and open our hearts to receive them as we receive you.
Jesus, Immanuel, True Light, we receive you!
Triune God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we receive you!
Amen.
Missed a day? No problem! You can find previous posts here.