Today's Advent devotional....by Me

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Psalm 21 | Genesis 15:1-18 | Matthew 12:33-37

Throughout time, we can see God at work. In the Psalm, David celebrates God’s mighty acts with music and singing. In Genesis, God is at work in Abram’s life and in the future of his descendants. Abram thinks that his family line must be almost done, but God promises him a son and blessings beyond his wildest dreams. In Matthew, God is at work in our hearts, producing good fruit.

“For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.”   Matthew 12:34c-35

What is in the treasury of our hearts? James 1:21-22 says, “So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” 

Is the word of God planted in the treasury of our hearts, producing good fruit? As we study Scripture and store it in our hearts, we see that it all points to Jesus (John 5:39)! Jesus enables us to produce good fruits; it is not our good works that save us though. They are only the result of our salvation (Philippians 1:10-11).

How can we plant the Word of God, which points to Jesus, in our hearts this Advent season? Through regular reading, studying, singing, memorizing, praying through, and meditating upon Scripture.

Pray through Ephesians 3:17-21:

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.