HIS HOLY NAME

The Third Sunday in Advent

EZEKIEL 39:7 (MSG)
I’ll reveal my holy name among my people Israel. Never again will I let my holy name be dragged in the mud. Then the nations will realize that I, GOD, am The Holy in Israel.

JOHN 17:26 (CEB)
I’ve made your name known to them and will continue to make it known so that your love for me will be in them, and I myself will be in them.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Jesus introduces us to God so we can know his love.

PRAYER
Gracious God, thank you for sending your Son Jesus into the world so that we can know you. I admit that I don't think much about who you are -- how different you are -- how wonderful your love is. Yes, I know those things on a surface level but I don't give your name the kind of attention it deserves. Show me more of Jesus so that I can know more of you. I'm going to attend first to you. Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

FOOLISHNESS EXPOSED

PSALM 33:10 (CEB)
The LORD overrules what the nations plan;
he frustrates what the peoples intend to do.

1 CORINTHIANS 1:20 (CEV)
What happened to those wise people? What happened to those experts in the Scriptures? What happened to the ones who think they have all the answers? Didn’t God show that the wisdom of this world is foolish?

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Bring a humble attitude to God because he is inclined to expose the foolishness of our arrogance.

PRAYER
Lord God, you are most brilliant and wise. You know all. Your plans are the best. Compared to you, I am foolish. Humble my arrogance. Frustrate any plans of mine that are not from you. Make me wise. Today, show and empower me for your plans. Amen. (Daily Texts, Ground Up Grace edition)

THE LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

FORGIVEN

ISAIAH 60:10 (NLT)
For though I have destroyed you in my anger,
I will now have mercy on you through my grace.

COLOSSIANS 2:13-14 (CEB)
God made you alive with Christ and forgave all the things you had done wrong. He destroyed the record of the debt we owed, with its requirements that worked against us. He canceled it by nailing it to the cross.

SUMMARY SENTENCE
God's mercy and grace come to us through Christ -- who has released us from the eternal consequences of our wrongdoing.

PRAYER
This is a wonderful thing, O God! You've forgiven us and all who turn and accept your forgiveness move forward with a clean slate. I don't say enough about this. Please give me opportunities today to live out this forgiveness, and to share a word about it with some who need to hear. I'm going to let this good news shape my life. Amen.

READY

JOEL 2:11-12 (CEB)
The day of the Lord is great;
it stirs up great fear—who can endure it?
Yet even now, says the Lord,
return to me with all your hearts...

LUKE 12:36 (MSG)
Be like house servants waiting for their master to come back...

SUMMARY SENTENCE
Stay alert and ready for the return of Christ.

PRAYER
Thank you, God, for the promise of your return to set things straight. I confess that I could be the one needing to be straightened out. So, I am looking for your help in turning things around. I want to be ready and in good standing with you when that happens. I pray this in the name of Christ Jesus, Amen.