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1 Give the gift of wise rule to the king, O God, the gift of just rule to the crown prince. 2 May he judge your people rightly, be honorable to your meek and lowly. 3 Let the mountains give exuberant witness; shape the hills with the contours of right living. 4 Please stand up for the poor, help the children of the needy, come down hard on the cruel tyrants. 5 Outlast the sun, outlive the moon - age after age after age. 6 Be rainfall on cut grass, earth-refreshing rain showers. 7 Let righteousness burst into blossom and peace abound until the moon fades to nothing. 10 Kings remote and legendary will pay homage, kings rich and resplendent will turn over their wealth. 11 All kings will fall down and worship, and godless nations sign up to serve him, 12 Because he rescues the poor at the first sign of need, the destitute who have run out of luck. 13 He opens a place in his heart for the down-and-out, he restores the wretched of the earth. 14 He frees them from tyranny and torture - when they bleed, he bleeds; when they die, he dies. (Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14 The Message)
May a glad heart, filled with joy and the love of God be yours today, dear Friend. For those of you who prefer my narrating these devotionals, I have been under the weather and felt that a bullfrog talking to you in the morning is not the best thing! Please remember me in your prayers. I'm a good boy and get my flu shot without much screaming or resistance, but there is not yet anything to prevent us from getting the common cold. Whoever thought to call it common was not well.
Advent continues to bless us if we but listen and learn. Advent is a time to let God speak honestly and lovingly to us. While most want to hear only words of comfort and peace, Advent is a time for honesty and frankness. The needs prior to Jesus' birth were very similar to today's. Justice is still sought in all corners of the world and in most homes. The psalmist lifts up his voice in a prophetic way and the words of a prophet were usually harsh words of warning, calling those who love and seek God to become servants and soldiers of a righteous way.
Hear this, "Please stand up for the poor, help the children of the needy, come down hard on the cruel tyrants." This is the time of year that a news source will feature a man who hands out one hundred dollar bills to people in need. He's a mystery Santa of sorts, who goes into grocery stores or stores like Dollar General or Dollar Tree, and as he sees need, gives the bills to people. Their reaction is usually one of great joy and shock. His actions have motivated others to mimic him. I saw a video on social media of a young man in a college asking people for high fives, and those who did high five the guy received a one hundred dollar bill. These asked, "Why?" And he just said he wanted to bless them. Others have YouTubers who have made significant money giving out more than $100 bills; some paying the full rent of neighbors, groceries, and more. We must listen to God and follow His lead to truly "stand up for the poor," especially for the children.
Poetically, the psalmist says, "Be rainfall on cut grass, earth-refreshing rain showers." These could be simple acts like a smile, a kind word, opening a door, asking how a person is, and being a blessing to all. These actions will do, as the title of today's devotional says, "Let righteousness burst into blossom and peace abound until the moon fades to nothing."
The arrival of Jesus in His birth set in motion what needs to occur to make this earth a better place. Our actions are also shaping what needs to be in place for His second return. We should be the hands and feet of the Lord so that when He comes, He will bless us, for we have blessed others. This is Advent!
PRAYER: Loving Father, bless me to be a blessing. Use us to be those who seek to bring justice and mercy to all, especially the poor and the victims of tyrants. Help me be the hands and feet of Jesus to all. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Confuse someone by making them think you are Christ incarnate, doing His will for them.
Blessings of peace and love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
