We often reprint prior devotions that now reflect on the coming lectionary texts. This is a reprint from a devotion originally published on December 17, 2014.
Prayer: Help us, Lord, not to keep the news of your son’s birth a secret. Let us go tell it on the mountain and everywhere. Amen. Reading: Romans 16: 25-27 (Click to read text) Stop and GROW: After reading the text, discuss/ponder the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's Book of Faith questions, which are part of Camp Mount Luther's GROW Time with campers. QUESTION 1: What scares, confuses, challenges, or doesn’t make sense to me in this text? QUESTION 2: What delights me in this text or is my favorite part of the story? QUESTION 3: What stories or memories does this text stir in me? QUESTION 4: What is God up to in this text? Reflection: Shortly after Thanksgiving, my daughter and I went and bought a few Christmas gifts for her to give to her mom and brother. She is excited to give these gifts to her family and almost daily, this almost-five-year-old comes up to me and whispers in my ear, "I didn't tell mom about the presents." She has been keeping this secret for over two weeks now, and I bet she'll make it the last 10 days until she can reveal what she picked out to put under the tree for them. Advent, in addition to being a season of hope, is also a season of secrets. We buy gifts for loved ones and keep it quiet until Christmas Day. And, in this appointed text for today, we are reminded that the arrival of Jesus is a secret. There was a period of darkness in history. And then, on a quiet night in Bethlehem, the mystery of God's plan was revealed as a little baby was born. He was the one that would save the world. Just as God gave us hints through the prophets, you may give hints about the gifts you give this year. And all will be revealed on Christmas Day. As you keep secrets this season, take time to remember the secret that God revealed in a manger so long ago. --Chad Hershberger
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