The Advent prayer for Wednesday, December 7, 2002, comes to us from: Hark the Herald Angels Sing: Daily Prayers for Advent by Stephenie Hovland
22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.
Romans 3:23 NRSV
Friends,
Paul’s letter to the church of Rome is written to introduce himself to the growing community of faith and as a draft of his reasoning for his missionary journeys to the gentiles. Paul had drawn scrutiny for offering the gospel of Christ to gentiles, yet he remained resolved that salvation was available to all. The cited verse underscores part of Paul’s treatise, we need to look at the second part of verse 22 through verse 23 to understand the full context:
“For there is no distinction, 23 since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Paul reminds us that we all have made, are making, and will make mistakes that require forgiveness. Whether we are Jews or Gentiles, churched, unchurched, or dechurched, we all make mistakes that require God grace and forgiveness. We are all recipients of the gift of redemption through the righteous sacrifice of Christ. None of us should think of ourselves so highly that we forget it was Christ who saved us. May we walk each day of the Advent season in humble reverence to Christ, offering to others the same grace Christ lavished upon us.
--Pastor Anthony
Advent Prayer – Day 11
O God, we recognize the perfection of the completely obedient angels you created. We know that no matter how hard we try, we cannot live without sin. The righteousness you demand is also freely given to us as a gift. Your righteousness is put on each one of us, so that we can be truly perfect, seemingly angelic, based on the one true faith in Jesus Christ. Preserve that faith in each of us. Amen.
-Stephenie Hovland