Daily Devotions: December 6, 2017

Daily Devotions: December 6, 2017

Psalm 85:10-13

“Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.” vs. 10

So what is it that we’re looking forward to as we move through Advent toward Christmas? For some, it might be a holiday party or maybe a family gathering full of celebratory rituals. Or maybe it’s simply an indefinable “something more!” That’s what the psalmist was searching for in those days before Jesus–he was looking forward to the salvation of God, and not just a feast and celebration. He describes his desire with words that touch our hearts and imagination. “Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.” Wow! In those few phrases he anticipates our deepest longing, the total transformation of society, the coming of the Kingdom of God. In this new age, God’s love and faithfulness merges with our own and we begin to live out our creative potential. There will justice for all, particularly the poor, and peace of every kind will fill the land. There’ll be an end to bigotry and every kind of “ism” and harmony will define our relationships. Some might dismiss this kind of talk as unrealistic and only a pipe dream–and some even look forward to war and mutual destruction. But the people of God, and that’s who we are, have always been hopefully optimistic, and the psalmist’s dream is what pulls us through the shadows and into the light. Pessimism has no place in our Advent ruminations!

Thought for the Day: What is the by-product of pessimistic thinking?

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