Advent Devotions: Week 1 Saturday

The readings suggested are: Psalm 147, Isaiah 30: 18-26 and Matthew 9:35 - 10:8.

Today in the movie I am David we saw, we witnessed many horrible things that men do to one another in wartime. Do you think any of those people were as Jesus described, they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd were they not?

Have you ever felt lost or helpless or alone? Have you ever seen other people who look lost or helpless? Jesus saw how many people were helpless and lost, and sent his disciples out as his workers into his harvest field. Who are Jesus disciples today? As we progress through this Advent season, we should think about what Jesus might want us to do in his harvest field. The harvest field Jesus is referring to is the wide world out there that has so many lost and helpless people in it. During the next few weeks we should be thinking about what it is that Jesus might be asking us to do for him.
St. Paul wrote about this (Romans 12:4-8):

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently,; if it is showing mercy let him do it cheerfully.

Think about what gifts God has given you and how you can best share them with the wide world.

Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, please let your Spirit guide us as we try find the talents and gifts you have given us. Lord, please help us to share them as we go out into the wide world. Help us to shepherd the harassed and helpless wherever we might find them. Amen