Bible Verse: We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. Romans 3:22
Scripture Reading: Micah 5:2-5; Matthew 2:5-12
As we enter the second week of Advent, we light the next purple candle, which represents “faith.”
This candle is also known as the “Bethlehem Candle,” as it originates from the prophecy of Micah, who foretold the birth of Jesus in the town of Bethlehem.
Throughout this week’s devotional, we will be exploring the unwavering faith of individuals who were involved in Jesus’ birth story. From the prophet Micah’s prophecy to Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the wise men from the East, we will delve into their extraordinary faith. This devotional will encourage and strengthen your faith as you grow in Christ.
One of my favourite quotes about faith comes from Thomas Aquinas: “To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible.”
This quote contradicts the famous saying, “Seeing is believing,” because faith is all about believing in the unseen. It’s about trusting that Scripture is true and putting our complete trust in God, even when our current reality seems bleak. Each of the men and women we will study this week had exceptional faith despite facing challenging circumstances.
The prophet Micah faced a violent childhood and a corrupt society in Judah. However, instead of being influenced, he remained determined to preach, and his faith in God grew more assertive.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew that being pregnant before marriage was punishable by death. Nevertheless, she bore Jesus in unwavering faith in God. Joseph initially wanted to divorce Mary quietly, but he changed his mind because he believed in God’s bigger plan to save humanity.
Like Micah, Mary, Joseph, and the other characters we will study this week, we must respond to our current challenges through a lens of faith instead of unbelief. We should walk by faith, and not adopt Frank Sinatra’s “doing it my way” mentality, but rather have faith in our Almighty Father and do things His way.
Prayer: Father, sometimes I feel my faith is weak and shallow. Please help me trust and depend on You, like Micah and Joseph, even when my circumstances are daunting. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you are still doing things “your way” due to unbelief, and surrender it to God this Christmas season.
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