Second Saturday of Advent
Daily Advent Readings & Meditation
December 16, 2023
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Today’s Texts:
Psalm 85:8-13: God’s assurance of peace to those who are faithful.
Romans 8:35-39: Nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus.

Psalm 85:8-13

Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.

Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.

Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.

Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.

The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.

Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.

Romans 8:35-39

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Today’s Meditation:   Psalm 85 shows a vision of a world where love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace not only exist together but thrive in unison. This vision offers us a glimpse of what God desires us to have—a life of harmony that is filled with presence of the Divine. In the well-known passage from the book of Romans, Paul describes in powerful words that God’s love for us through Christ is an unbreakable bond that steadfast against every tide of life. These two texts call us to place our trust in the unfailing promises of God and to embrace a love that remains constant and unwavering. They urge us to live with the certainty that, come what may, we are forever held in the certain and never-ending embrace of God’s love. Today, let’s allow this profound assurance of God’s love to shape our vision and understanding, letting the peace that comes from God’s love be the foundation upon which we build our day.

Something to Think and Pray About:

1. How can the assurance of God’s peace and love impact your daily life and interactions with others?
2. What steps can you take to deepen your trust in the unshakable love of God?

A Prayer For Today:  Gracious God, as we journey through this season of Advent, fill our hearts with the assurance of Your peace and love. Remind us that nothing can separate us from Your love in Christ. May this truth guide our steps and interactions, helping us to live as reflections of Your love and peace in the world. Amen.