Advent Day 8: Pointing To Christ

Link to the free devotional by Dwell App found here: https://tinyurl.com/yysjvwjm⁣ ⁣ 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟴: 𝗣𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁⁣ ⁣ Isaiah 40:1-11 ⁣ Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 ⁣ 2 Peter 3:8-15a ⁣ Mark 1:1-8⁣ ⁣ 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵; 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰 𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘷𝘢𝘪𝘯, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘪𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘵; 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴, 𝘮𝘢𝘯’𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘭𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯.⁣ –Tertullian⁣ ⁣ Have you ever looked at an ancient icon or historic Christian painting and struggled to tell what’s going on? If so, you’re in good company! While appreciating the beauty and reverence of these timeless works, the modern viewer is often left in the dark, unclear on who and what is depicted, and by extension, how to properly engage and appreciate such artwork. However, there is one figure that can always be easily identified: John the Baptist. How, you may ask? By his finger.⁣ ⁣ Though commonly remembered for his unique diet and dramatic dress, John the Baptist’s finger is in many ways his most defining feature, for with it he fulfills his primary role in the story of salvation. John points us to Christ, showing us where to go when we are disoriented. He helps us look afresh to Christ when we are confused and cannot see a way forward. In short, he reminds us, often with great passion and urgency, where our focus is meant to be.⁣ ⁣ In this second week of Advent, we focus on the themes of preparation and repentance. As Isaiah 40:3 reminds us, “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” In the busyness of this holiday season, your focus is likely scattered and pulled in a dozen different directions. Yet into this noise, each year Christians are invited again to tune their hearts to the ancient words of the prophet who proclaimed “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins” (Mk. 1:4). Our Lord is coming. May he find us ready and waiting.⁣ ⁣ ⁣ 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸⁣ Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.⁣ ⁣ ⁣ 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲⁣ It is impossible to give ourselves fully to multiple passions or pursuits. As such, we will take time this week to practice fasting, a timeless discipline that encourages attentiveness by eliminating distraction. To this end, consider today fasting from noise in a way that makes sense for your context. Perhaps you take a break from TV, music, or podcasts. Go for a walk. Drive in the car with the radio off. Be creative, but remember, we say “no” in order to say “yes” to something better!⁣ ⁣