Daily Devotion – December 13, 2021
Micah 5:2-5a
 2 But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
 who are one of the little clans of Judah,
 from you shall come forth for me
 one who is to rule in Israel,
 whose origin is from of old,
 from ancient days.
 3Therefore he shall give them up until the time
 when she who is in labor has brought forth;
 then the rest of his kindred shall return
 to the people of Israel.
 4And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD,
 in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
 And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
 to the ends of the earth;
 5and he shall be the one of peace.
 If the Assyrians come into our land
 and tread upon our soil,
 we will raise against them seven shepherds
 and eight installed as rulers.
Today’s reading uses imagery of pregnancy and
labor. If you have ever waited for the birth of a child,
you know the anticipation, the sense of wonder, and
the stress it involves. That child is going to change
your life, but for now, you are waiting … waiting.
Advent, too, is a time of waiting, a time of
anticipation, and yes, of stress. We are often
overwhelmed with lengthy to-do lists: planning
holiday events, Christmas shopping, baking treats.
With the busyness of the season, it is easy to forget
how Israel was waiting for the Messiah. The child
that came long ago not only changed the life of his
family, but changed the lives of the entire world.
This Advent let’s keep that sense of wonder and
anticipation for the coming Messiah. Let’s put that
child who saved the world at the center of our lives
and thank God for such a gift.
Prayer: Merciful God, we anticipate the coming of the Christchild this Advent season. We pray that we don’t get
caught up in the daily stresses of life and that we keep
Christ at the center of our lives. Amen.
