Advent Devotion for Monday, November 28, 2016 from Society of St. Andrew "Advent Devotions 2016" of Big Island, Virginia, United States
Monday, November 28, 2016
"Fear of the Other"
Scripture: Deuteronomy 31:1-8
Deuteronomy 31:1 Moshe went and spoke the following words to all Isra’el: 2 “I am 120 years old today. I can’t get around any longer; moreover, Adonai has said to me, ‘You will not cross this Yarden.’ 3 Adonai your God — he will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations ahead of you, and you will dispossess them. Y’hoshua — he will cross over ahead of you, as Adonai has said. (LY: ii) 4 Adonai will do to them what he did to Sichon and ‘Og, the kings of the Emori, and to their land — he destroyed them. 5 Adonai will defeat them ahead of you, and you are to do to them just as I have ordered you to do. 6 Be strong, be bold, don’t be afraid or frightened of them, for Adonai your God is going with you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”(RY: v, LY: iii) 7 Next Moshe summoned Y’hoshua and, in the sight of all Isra’el, said to him, “Be strong, be bold, for you are going with this people into the land Adonai swore to their ancestors he would give them. You will be the one causing them to inherit it. 8 But Adonai — it is he who will go ahead of you. He will be with you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you, so don’t be afraid or downhearted.”
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Too often, we are paralyzed by fear of the “Other,” unable to extend our hand or expand our heart. The morning news reports a tow truck driver refusing to help a stranded motorist because she supports a particular political candidate. The evening news may start with a story about violence, because “If it bleeds, it leads.” We are encouraged to build walls for safety or ban those of another faith; we are disinclined to travel abroad because of terrorism threats; and gun permits and gated communities woo us. Beyond all of those, we face personal anxiety about health, family crises, finances, or our mortality. It is little wonder our understanding, compassion, grace or kindness is crippled!
The Bible’s antidote to our dis-ease? “Fear not!” We are not alone—God is with us. A United Methodist banner in New York City after 9/11 boldly proclaimed, “Fear is not the only force at work in the world today.” God will not leave or forsake us. God promises to deliver us from whatever enslaves or ensnares us, and still comes vowing peace on earth, good will to all. The Gospel’s truth is this: Whatever the future brings, it will meet us as Love. Thanks be to God!
Prayer: O God, on our best days we trust you and are not fearful. Every day, by the help of Christ, may we believe in our hearts, and what we believe in our hearts may we practice in our lives, so that we may be doers and not simply hearers of your Word. May the Word may become flesh in us afresh. Amen.[David Hindman, Williamsburg, Virginia]
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The Society of St. Andrew is a national nonprofit hunger-relief ministry that rescues 25-30 million pounds of fresh, nutritious, excess produce each year that would otherwise go to waste for various marketing reasons. This food is then distributed to critical feeding agencies across the country at no cost to the agencies or the hungry people they serve. More information about the Society of St. Andrew and its hunger-relief programs - Gleaning Network, Potato & Produce Project, and Harvest of Hope is available online at EndHunger.org.
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