Devotional Helps for Advent

This morning my son and I worked on memorizing John 15:9: As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. Rehearsing such a verse (and considering its immediate context) led to an intense stirring of my heart. Rightly so. The impeccability of the Father's love toward the Son is shown in abundant measure to those who respond to the Gospel in faith. I wrote the verse on an index card for my son to practice, and with thoughts of such a profound love flooding my soul, I considered why someone would spend life aiming to do anything other than abide in the love of Christ. After all, it really is an awe-inspiring privilege--to walk daily by faith, remaining in the safety and delight of his commandments. There is no better way to live, and through Christ we have the power to do so.

But this is not a blog explaining what it means to abide. It's just that this morning's exercise spurred me to consider ways to capitalize on the command to do so during the upcoming Advent season. Admittedly, I have spent too many Christmas seasons distracted by cultural traditions. (None have been sinful in the slightest. I've already watched a handful of Christmas movies and the seal on December has yet to be broken!) Often, though, certain cultural rhythms tend to avert my attention from the Son of God who took on flesh that I might know Him as Savior and Lord. This year--and hopefully every year--I am making it my goal to flood my soul with Advent realities. With the realities of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. With confident, hope-filled, and expectant longing for the Advent to come. With Jesus. More and more of Him!

Instead of going at this alone, why not join me? Let's make Christmas a season of intentional abiding. Let's increase our knowledge and zeal for the One whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient of days (Micah 5:2). I believe the resources listed below will be of great help to us. (There is a mixture of personal and family devotional material.) But understand this: There is no substitution for repetitive reading and rumination of the Scriptures. I wholeheartedly believe that a good book is simply a billboard pointing us back to the Greatest Book.

FREE DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES

The Dawn of Indestructible Joy by John Piper

Good News of Great Joy by John Piper

The Innkeeper by John Piper

RESOURCES FOR PURCHASE

The Coming of the King by J.C. Ryle

Good Tidings of Great Joy by C.H. Spurgeon

Prepare Him Room by Marty Machowski

Come Let Us Adore Him by Paul David Tripp

O Come, O Come Emmanuel by Jonathan Gibson

Christmas Uncut by Carl Laferton

Christmas Thoughts by J.C. Ryle