Excerpts from
PROPHECY AND EXPECTATION
AN ADVENT BOOKLET FOR 2024
A GUIDE FOR MEDITATION AND ACTION
SPONSORED BY THE DEPARTMENTS OF CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OF THE
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Rev. Garland F. Pierce, Executive Director
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL ZION CHURCH
Rev. Patrick Barrett II, General Secretary-Treasurer
CHRISTIAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Dr. Carmichael D. Crutchfield, General Secretary
The cover art is based on a painting in St. Matthew AME Church in Philadelphia, PA, USA. Bishop Vernon R. Byrd, Jr. served as pastor at the time when permission for usage was given. The cover art is not to be reproduced in any form without the expressed permission of the publisher.
GRAPHIC ARTIST
Micheal Russell, AME Church Publishing House
Scripture quotations not otherwise identified are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
INTRODUCTION
The Advent season is a time for reflection on God’s great love for us in the sending of Emmanuel-God with us and on Christ’s promised return. For some time now, the Historic Black Methodist Churches have used this time to share a daily devotional to serve as a resource for spiritual practice and faith formation during this blessed season. It is a joint labor of love of the Christian Education Departments of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, and the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
This year’s themes focus on the lineage of Jesus the long-awaited Messiah and the glorious reign of God. The scripture passages were selected from the Home Daily Bible Readings published by the Committee on Uniform Series (CUS) of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. CUS has promoted an ecumenical approach to the study and teaching of God’s word since 1872.
It has been an honor to serve as this year’s editor. Special thanks to all the meditation contributors and to my colleagues, Rev. Patrick Barrett II, General Secretary-Treasurer for the AMEZ Christian Education Department, Dr. Carmichael D. Crutchfield, General Secretary for the CME Christian Education Department, Dr. Gwendolyn Peters and Dr. Willa Ross, meditation coordinators for the AMEZ and CME contributions, respectively.
In Advent, we are called to reflect and wait for the coming of Christ; however, far too often, it is a time of anxiety and hurriedness due to the societal demands of the season. This season this year still is marked by war and violence in the very land where many of our scriptural passages tell of ancient life and promises. We pray that this meditation guide might be a tool to assist us to slow down and focus on our faith in Christ this Advent and Christmastide, resulting in a deepened discipleship that inspires us to respond faithfully to our callings to do greater works of compassion, justice, peace, and witness, particularly now in the midst of a hurting and divided world.
December 1, 2024
First Sunday of Advent
Salvation’s Witnesses
Ruth 4:9-17
The women of the neighborhood gave him a name, saying, “A son has been born to Naomi.” They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David. Ruth 4:17
Earlier in the book of Ruth, it appeared that neither Naomi nor her daughter-in-law, Ruth, have much of a future. Their men were dead; no heirs were left. All would seem lost; but, they had the God of Naomi’s people, the one who Ruth declared would also be her God. This God was a promise-keeper. This God covenanted with Abraham; thus covering Naomi and now Ruth. A way forward was gleaned. A righteous man, Boaz, stepped up, declaring to the neighbors, “Today, you are witnesses!” They were witnesses that he honored the law and custom as well as his family and his God who was the lawgiver. He married Ruth; and, new life was birth. His and his kinsman’s son born by Ruth would have a son; and, that son would have a son that would become king and be declared a man after God’s own heart. From that king and through that lineage ultimately the King of Kings, the fulfillment of the law and the prophets, the ultimate source of our salvation, would be born, witnessed by shepherds and angels.
During this Advent season, amid divisions and wars, oppression and hatred, we are called like Naomi and Ruth to glean ways forward in faith even when it seems there is no way. We, like Boaz, are called to step up and honor family and life-giving traditions in the face of soul-crushing and death-dealing situations and forces. Finally, we are called to be witnesses to God moving in unexpected and impossible ways to keep God’s promises to us and to Christ being salvation to all.
PRAYER: Way-maker, Miracle-worker, Promise-keeper, Light in the darkness, my God, like the people and elders declared, so do we, “We are witnesses!” In the name of the one who came, still comes, and will come again, we pray, AMEN.
Rev. Garland F. Pierce is executive director of the Department of Christian Education of the AME Church and serves as chair of the Committee on the Uniform Series of the National Council of Churches, USA.
Monday, December 2, 2024
Chosen: A Matter of the Heart
1 Samuel 16:1-13
“The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 1 Samuel 16:1
Perhaps all of us have made or were tempted to make important decisions based on what made logical sense to us; but, God provided somebody to intervene to show us something we did not see. Such is the case in our text today. God sent Samuel to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as king of Israel because he had rejected Saul because of his disobedience. As soon as Samuel saw Jesse’s oldest son with a muscular physique, he immediately thought to himself “surely this is the Lord’s anointed”; but, he was not the chosen one. God immediately admonished him by saying, “he was looking at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” This is a prime example of how we should acknowledge that we are incapable of choosing leaders apart from God showing us the one(s) God has chosen to avoid the costly mistake of making decision based on external factors.
God chooses leaders after his own heart (1 Samuel 13:14 and Jeremiah 3:15). Jesus was the ultimate heir to the throne of David because he had a heart like his Father. “David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel” (Jeremiah 33:17). The government will be upon his shoulders (Isaiah 9:6).
PRAYER: Holy and gracious Father, I pray that you will give us a heart after yours and help us to allow you to show us the leaders you have chosen for us. AMEN
Rev. Dr. Eleazar Merriweather, former pastor and presiding elder, is the Executive Director of the Department of Church Growth & Development of the AME Zion Church.
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
Jesus The Heir of David
2 Samuel 5:1-10
The LORD said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel. 2 Samuel 5:2b
All the tribes gathered to accept the kingship of David; for seven years they had rejected him as king, and he only reigned over Judah. They now fully identified with him as the same bone and flesh. Christ himself “came to what was his own and his own people did not accept him.” (John 1:11)
Now they acknowledged that it was him who God ordained to be shepherd over them, in like manner “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) And “at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11) It is only in Christ Jesus we have our salvation.
“Jesus had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove… Jesus was about thirty years old when he began his work….” (Luke 3:21-23). At thirty years old, David is anointed king over Israel; Jesus, at thirty years, is anointed by the Father when the Spirit descended on him. He truly is the everlasting king forever anointed to reign over all humanity.
PRAYER: Lord, I pray that people will embrace Jesus as the anointed king over humanity and open their hearts to him and let him reign over them in their daily living, in Jesus’s name. AMEN
Rev. Bonface Odhiambo is pastor at Grace Family Chapel CME Church in Nairobi, Kenya. He is married to Jaque Odhiambo and blessed with two children.
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
Whose Message Will You Listen To?
Luke 1:26-38
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary for you have found favor with God.” Luke 1:30
The story of Mary and the angel often emphasizes her miraculous obedience and Jesus’ conception. However, it is equally important to consider the messenger, Gabriel. His name, meaning “God is my strength,” reflects the role of delivering prophetic messages of blessings, good news, and divine favor. During this season of Advent, we are inundated with so many messages. We are flooded with so many advertisements on social media, television, etc. Many of the messages during this season can often be distracting, what new phone is out, what are the best gifts to buy, how shall one decorate? Even in the church, we are often preoccupied with concerns of who will prepare the youth for the Christmas play, how will church giving be impacted during the holiday season. All these considerations can be static noise, distracting us from the TRUE message and messenger?
Whose Message Will You Listen To? Will you allow yourself to be consumed by worldly concerns? Instead, embrace the good news this season brings. Open your heart to the message of God’s favor. Anticipate the coming of Jesus, descendant of King David, the Holy One!
PRAYER: Dear God, guide us to embrace the true essence of this season. Grant us clarity to set aside worldly distractions, allowing us to share your message of hope and love with those around us. May our actions and message reflect the genuine spirit of this season, touching hearts and inspiring others to seek your wisdom. Let us be overshadowed by the power of the Most High. In Jesus’s name, AMEN.
Dr. Alexis Gatson, assistant professor at Tennessee State University, engages in research on health and spirituality. She holds the role of Chair of Christian Education for the Tennessee Annual Conference of the AME Church.
Thursday, December 5, 2024
Take Refuge in Him
Psalm 2
Happy are all who take refuge in him. Psalm 2:12b
The season of Advent is a time of reflection on the uncompromised plan of God. It is reflective of God’s protective love for his people. We can see this in the reign of King David and the prophecy of King Jesus as described in Psalm 2. This passage begins with the reign of King David, the current king. David is anointed King and God calls him his begotten son. David’s kingship would be met with much opposition from the rulers of the day. But God’s protective love would defeat his enemies; and, David would find a place of refuge.
While that would be true in David’s day, others would come and be in need of refuge, a resting place from the cares of the world. Among them would be Jesus, the heir of David, the only begotten son of God who would reign forever and ever. Jesus too would face opposition and rebellion from rulers. But God would be his protection from his enemies too. God’s protective power is unmatched against all enemies. No wonder David said, “Happy are all who take refuge in him”.
This Advent season, take a closer look at that final plan of refuge that would last forever and ever. Take a closer look at King Jesus and find in him a sweet resting place. Take refuge in him. In this season of governmental unrest and rebellious leaders, reflect on the promised one of God, King Jesus, and take refuge in him. King Jesus, our real commander and chief, will protect us from all enemies both foreign and domestic. Take refuge in him!
PRAYER: Thank you, God, for your only begotten son in whom we are happy to take refuge. AMEN
Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Peters is pastor of Ards Chapel AME Zion Church, Amite, LA, and is the devotion coordinator for the AME Zion Christian Education Department.
Friday, December 6, 2024
Multiplied Joy
Isaiah 9:1-7
You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy Isaiah 9:3a
As I write this meditation, the World Series in baseball is about to begin. As the two teams won games to get them to this point, victory celebrations took place in the locker rooms.
The Prophet Isaiah says that the Messiah has increased and multiplied exultation. This increase in joy is directly related to the victory. The ministry of the Messiah would bring joy and gladness to Israel. They will rejoice according to the joy of harvest, the time when the hard work has paid off and the bounty comes off. They will rejoice as people rejoice when they divide the plunder.
“As in the day of Midian” refers to Gideon’s great victory over Midian in Judges 7. As wonderfully complete, joyous, and victorious as Gideon’s victory over Midian was, this is the same kind of victory the Messiah will enjoy and give.
And the victory is complete. The reference to every warrior’s boots… garments rolled in blood, will be used for burning and fuel of fire means that the battle is over. This is what one did when the battle was finished, and one had won.
Each of these promises – the reference to great joy, the breaking of the yoke of his burden and the rod of his oppressor, and the complete victory over all enemies has spiritual application to Jesus’s work in our lives. These things are ours in Jesus.
When is Jesus sad or worried or afraid? When does Jesus groan under the yoke of his burden? When does Jesus feel the sting of the rod of his oppressor? When is Jesus’s victory incomplete? The risen, glorified, ascended Jesus experiences none of these things, and he has raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6). As we are in Jesus Christ, we share in his victory.
PRAYER: I praise you, God, for victory in Jesus! AMEN
Rev. Dr. Carmichael D. Crutchfield is general secretary, Department of Christian Education and Formation of the CME Church; vice president of academic affairs and academic dean at Memphis Theological Seminary; and pastor of Mother Liberty CME Church, Jackson, TN.
Saturday, December 7, 2024
God’s Promise
Romans 1:1-7
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, Romans 1:1-2
Romans 1:1-6 proclaims the gospel of Christmas with power to bring to a crescendo our collective anticipation for the advent of our King and Savior, the Messiah, Jesus. It introduces Paul as a joyful and willing servant of King Jesus, set apart to preach the good news about Jesus. Paul interrupts his own greetings to begin teaching the gospel that Jesus Christ our Lord is the Son of God who took on our humanity; was crucified and buried for his troubles; and was resurrected from the dead. Paul’s letter was addressed to those in Rome who are beloved of God and are called saints of God and is also addressed to present day saints who are too beloved of God. As Christians, we are challenged to continue carrying the torch and letting our light shine that all may know that Jesus lives.
Advent is a season in which we look ahead to Christ who has both come and is coming. It is a time when the words, “Come, Lord Jesus!” reverberate within our hearts, draw tears of joy from our eyes, and echo throughout the unfathomable reaches of the human soul as we wait in hope. It is a season in which a forward journey is begun in trusting preparation, patiently listening in the desert’s quiet for the soft breath of the Christ Child, whose tender magnificence unceasingly draws us with love into the mysterious life of God Incarnate.
Advent gives us another opportunity to become mirrors of Christ. Therefore, let us unite as one, telling God’s people all over the world that the light of Advent will only fully shine on the world when the church becomes a people who better reflect the story of radical hospitality — the story of Jesus during his time on earth, the story of the Christ-Child who has accepted all into the presence of God.
PRAYER: Come, Lord Jesus! AMEN
Rev. James C. Givens, pastor of Mount Olive African Methodist Episcopal Church, Fort Myers, Florida, serves as Chaplain for the Fellowship of Church Educators (FCE) of the African Methodist Episcopal Church and is a candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.