THROUGH INTERCULTURAL PARTNERSHIPS, WE’RE WORKING FOR THE FLOURISHING OF COMMUNITIES + CREATING AVENUES OF ACCESS TO THE GOSPEL FOR THOSE STILL WAITING TO HEAR IT. LEARN MORE AT FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM
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FEAR NOT, FOR BEHOLD, I BRING YOU
good news of great joy
LUKE 2:10-11 (ESV) THAT WILL BE FOR ALL THE PEOPLE. FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOR, WHO IS CHRIST THE LORD.
INTRODUCTION
UNPRECEDENTED: the word used most frequently in describing 2020. A global pandemic shut down entire nations, natural disasters and threats of war led to displaced peoples, and tensions over political, ethnic and racial injustice sparked protests in communities around the world.
The tension of Advent mirrors so much of our current days. We rejoice in Jesus’ humble arrival two thousand years ago, yet long so deeply for the fullness of Christ to be made manifest in our hearts and in our world. How long, O Lord, must we wait for Your return?
WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US THIS ADVENT SEASON AS WE BOTH CELEBRATE AND LAMENT this already and not yet season in which we find ourselves. John the Baptist was sent ahead to pave the way for the coming of Christ. Mark 1:2-3 (MSG) says of John: “He’ll make the road smooth for you. Thunder in the desert! Prepare for God’s arrival! Make the road smooth and straight!”
THIS DEVOTIONAL SERVES AS OUR THUNDER IN THE DESERT: a shout in the wilderness for all to hear. We desire to help you prepare for Christmas as you create space for God to enter your heart this Advent season. We also hope to introduce you to, or remind you of, our deep love and commitment to the frontier: the 2+ billion people worldwide who have not yet heard the Good News of Jesus Christ and the hope, peace, joy and love He brings.
For centuries, the four Sundays before Christmas have been designated by Christians as the season of Advent. Followers of Christ set aside these four weeks as a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus, culminating in the celebration of Christmas Day. It is also a time of great longing, as we await the second coming of Christ when all will be made new.
Use this booklet as you feel led. Our hope is that each day, you will spend a few moments with Jesus—quiet yourself and reflect on the brief devotional for the day. We’ll introduce four Advent themes that have been used in churches for centuries: hope, peace, joy and love. Each week will follow the same pattern, beginning with a brief introduction on Sundays. Mondays, you’ll hear about and meditate on what the writers of Scripture have said about these themes. Tuesdays, we’ll introduce you to some of the world’s major religions and possible entry points for the Good News of Jesus. Wednesdays, you’ll meet some of our global friends who’ve found new life in Christ. Thursdays, we’ll focus our prayers—for ourselves and for the world—through the lens of the weekly theme. Fridays, we’ll invite you to reflect on what the week’s theme means for you. We’ll end the weeks on Saturdays with some opportunities for action on behalf of yourself, your community and the world.
We pray that this devotional will not only assist you in your personal reflection during this season, but also help you learn about the world and participate in bringing Christ’s hope, peace, joy and love to least-reached peoples still waiting for Good News.
USING THIS DEVOTIONAL
WEEK 01
“‘FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU,’ DECLARES THE LORD, ‘PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT TO HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE.’” JEREMIAH 29:11 (NIV)
INVITATION TO HOPE
READ LUKE 1:26-38.
(If you’re lighting candles on your Advent wreath, follow the candle icon below.)
JESUS IS OUR HOPE.
Long ago, people had hope in their hearts as they waited for a Savior to set them free. Jesus Christ, the Light of the World, is our ever-present hope. We pray that the many people around the world still waiting to be set free will soon find hope in Jesus.
SPEND A FEW MOMENTS REFLECTING ON THE FOLLOWING:
What are some things you hope for today and for the future?
What does God’s hope mean to you?
Name some areas of your life that need Christ’s hope.
Ask God to put on your heart a place or situation in the world that needs the hope of Jesus today.
JOIN THE GLOBAL FAMILY OF GOD IN PRAYING:
Dear Jesus, thank You for coming to earth as our Savior. Light of the World, we need You so much. Amidst the world’s suffering and sorrow, fill our hearts with hope that one day You will make all things new. Help us share Your hope with others today. We love You. In Your name we pray, Amen.
A THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON HOPE
True hope is more than just wishful thinking. True hope rests in the belief that the God of all creation loves us, has plans for us, wants to be with us, forgives us and invites us to be part of Kingdom work in the world. It is the confidence that God is faithful and capable, and that He will never leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6).
“For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
Exiled in Babylon and longing for home, God spoke this promise to the people of Israel in the midst of their despair. “For thus says the Lord...I will restore your fortunes and gather you...I will bring you back” (Jeremiah 29:10, 14). God is their hope and renews His commitment to love, care and provide for them.
Many of us might experience feelings of exile and a longing for “home,” literally or figuratively, in a particularly poignant way this Advent. Perhaps we’re distanced from family, friends, co-workers or places of worship. We may feel lonely, depressed, isolated or afraid. In one way or another, all of us yearn for home—that place where we are authentically known, unconditionally loved and secure in our belonging as God’s children.
The world is not as it should be. Advent invites us to acknowledge that present reality while clinging to our faith-filled hope that Jesus is making all things new (Revelation 21:5). One day, He will gather us into His family alongside every nation, tribe, people and language (Revelation 7:9). Until then, we join with the global Church to celebrate Christ’s birth and exercise our collective hope as we anticipate His return. On that day there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish (Isaiah 9:1).
Take some time today to reflect on these passages of Scripture. In what ways do they inspire you to hope?
ISAIAH 7:14
ISAIAH 9:1-6
ROMANS 5:5
ROMANS 12:12-13
ROMANS 15:4, 13
TUESDAY DECEMBER 1
HOPE FOR THE FRONTIER
When Jewish leaders asked John the Baptist if he was Israel’s hoped-for Messiah, he replied with words from Isaiah’s prophecy, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord’” (John 1:23). John pointed to Jesus as the coming Messiah—God’s divine intervention and answer to every human’s quest for identity, meaning and freedom.
One of Buddhism’s key tenets is the belief that the path to enlightenment must be made on one’s own, without supernatural help. Nirvana , Buddhism’s ultimate goal, means “blowing out” or “quenching.” It is the state of being in which one is finally unencumbered by suffering and desire, and released from karma and reincarnation.
Buddhists diligently seek nirvana through meditation, intention and willpower—striving to overcome hatred, greed, delusion and distractions. On the way to nirvana, these efforts are intended to help one achieve a better station in the next life. Every hope for enlightenment hinges on one’s own ability.
When we walk with Jesus, we are given new life and a hope that gives us assurance for the future. As the Good News of God’s Kingdom is being made known among Buddhists, some are beginning to follow Jesus because of the hope He gives them both for this life and for a future that isn’t contingent on their own goodness and striving. Jesus offers the way to new life through God’s grace. God brings hope to the entire world for any who would come to Him.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN PARTNER WITH GOD’S WORK AMONG BUDDHISTS AND OTHER LEAST-REACHED PEOPLE GROUPS AT FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM
ENCOUNTERING HOPE IN THAILAND
Malee grew up in the primarily Buddhist nation of Thailand. Like many girls in her region, she was forced into a life of prostitution at a young age in order to provide income for her family’s survival. Worse still, she was abused by her father, was neglected by her mother and became virtually homeless. She lost hope and became severely depressed.
Thankfully, through a series of events, she was eventually removed from the captivity of her abusers and led to a safe place: a Christian hostel where young people were able to live without fear and go to school. Malee began to learn what it meant to belong, to be loved and to be treated with respect and honor. Her heart began to open to Jesus, and God began the redemptive work of healing the deep wounds she carried.
Earlier this year, Frontier Fellowship staff gathered in Thailand and Malee told us about her newfound faith in Christ. She shared how the Lord and her new Christian community had brought restoration to her soul. Giving her whole self to Jesus, she discovered a love that she had never experienced before. She was no longer alone. BEING RAISED IN SUCH A HOPELESS SITUATION, MALEE HAD NEVER KNOWN THERE WAS A LOVING GOD WHO WANTED TO GUIDE AND PROTECT HER FROM THE EVILS THAT SURROUNDED HER.
Now, Malee dreams of becoming a Bible teacher. She is dedicating her life to forming Christian community wherever she can—and helping rescue others along the way. She is still surrounded in her day-to-day life by the Buddhist beliefs of reincarnation, karma, the darkness of evil spirits and the life of individualism. However, now Malee has found true hope in Christ!
PRAYING FOR HOPE IN THE BUDDHIST WORLD
We echo the words of the Apostle Paul: “The Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled” (Romans 15:4 NLT). Millions of Buddhists worldwide are striving in their own efforts toward hope. Join the global Church in praying that Buddhists in Thailand and throughout the world would experience Christ’s invitation into Kingdom life.
PRAY THAT:
God’s presence and hope would replace fear in Buddhist hearts. Buddhists would be full of God-inspired imagination to see the world as He does.
Christians would be humble and bold as they serve as ambassadors of reconciliation in a region filled with ethnic and political conflict.
“REJOICE IN OUR CONFIDENT HOPE. BE PATIENT IN TROUBLE, AND KEEP ON PRAYING.” —ROMANS 12:12 (NLT)
EXPLORE TOOLS TO HELP YOU INTERCEDE FOR THE BUDDHIST WORLD AND OTHER LEAST-REACHED PEOPLES AT FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM/PRAY
THURSDAY DECEMBER 3
A PERSONAL CALL TO HOPE
READ JEREMIAH 29:4-13.
2020 has been a strange, new, frustrating, challenging and sad year for most of the world. Over the past many months, we’ve wondered what was next, when we could get back to normal or if life would ever be normal again. God’s proclamation to the people of Israel during their exile in Babylon is a good word for us this first week of Advent. As we prepare to celebrate Jesus coming into our hurting world, how do these words from Jeremiah 29 connect with you? What inspires hope in you for today and for the future, for yourself and for the world? Invite God to show you ways you might cultivate hope in your own life and the lives of others this Advent season. Spend some time today reflecting on God’s consistent promise to give us hope and a future.
USE THIS SPACE TO WRITE YOUR THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, PRAYERS + QUESTIONS ABOUT HOPE: (additional space for notes is provided on Pages 44-47)
HOPE IN ACTION
CREATE SPACE FOR GOD TO INSPIRE HOPE IN YOUR LIFE BY ENGAGING IN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:
Write a note of encouragement to someone you know who could use the extra support.
Create a list of ways you are finding hope in God today.
Call a supportive friend and have a conversation about where you each are experiencing hope in this season.
Continue to pray for hope in the Buddhist world using the additional prayer resources at frontierfellowship.com/pray.
Watch a movie or read a book that tells a story of hope. Some movie suggestions include Free Burma Rangers, It’s a Wonderful Life and The King’s Speech. Some book suggestions include Miraculous Movements, The Hiding Place and The Same Kind of Different as Me.
JOIN OUR GLOBAL PARTNERS AS THEY CARRY THE HOPE OF JESUS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES THIS CHRISTMAS AT: FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM/CHRISTMAS
WEEK 02 peace
“DO NOT BE ANXIOUS ABOUT ANYTHING, BUT IN EVERY SITUATION, BY PRAYER AND PETITION, WITH THANKSGIVING, PRESENT YOUR REQUESTS TO GOD. AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH TRANSCENDS ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND YOUR MINDS IN CHRIST JESUS.” PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7 (NIV)
INVITATION TO PEACE
AS YOU ENTER TODAY’S INVITATION TO PEACE, TAKE A MOMENT OF QUIET TO PREPARE.
(If you’re lighting candles on your Advent wreath, follow the candle icons below.)
JESUS IS OUR HOPE.
Read John 14:27 and Acts 10:36.
JESUS
BRINGS US PEACE .
We ask today that God’s peace would guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We pray that the more than 2 billion people on earth today still waiting for Good News will soon know Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
JOIN THE GLOBAL FAMILY OF GOD IN PRAYING:
In a world where so many experience violence, God illuminates peace in our hearts. Lord, give us Your peace.
In uncertain times even in our own country, Pour Your Spirit out in huge measure. Lord, give us Your peace.
For our own anxious minds and troubled souls, We reach out to You, Jesus. Lord, give us Your peace.
As we wait for a Savior in this time of Advent— The One called Immanuel, God with us— Lord, give us Your peace.
RECEIVE GOD’S WORD FROM LUKE 1:78-79:
“By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Spend some time in silence and stillness before God. Invite the Holy Spirit to envelop you, your family, your community and the whole world with God’s peace.
A THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON PEACE
Christmas is coming soon amidst a year of social, economic, environmental, political, racial and health crises. 2020 has been painful for people across the globe. We long for peace.
The biblical concept of peace comes from the Hebrew word shalom . It has a wide semantic range including notions of totality, completeness, cosmic order, success, fulfillment, wholeness, harmony, security and wellbeing—all parts of the foundation of peace. Shalom is a comprehensive image of the cosmic order ordained by God, a peaceable Kingdom that finds its meaning and function as it conforms to His purpose (Genesis 1:1-26). Shalom describes the complete, harmonious relationship between creation and Creator—a harmony that was shattered when the powers of evil and human rebellion distorted God’s good creation (Genesis 3).
The fundamental truth of Christmas is that Jesus came to reconcile humanity with God, people with each other and ourselves within. Jesus—our Shalom—was sent to restore the harmony of God’s cosmic order!
In the midst of all that is happening around us or within us, let us be comforted by the reality that Christ is our peace. Jesus is the bridge between racial and cultural divides, leading the way to reconciled relationships and, ultimately, peace.
Christmas is more than a social or cultural celebration. Christmas is centered on Jesus, our Shalom. Thank God today that He was pleased through Christ “to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross” (Colossians 1:20).
“PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU; MY PEACE I GIVE YOU. I DO NOT GIVE TO YOU AS THE WORLD GIVES. DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED AND DO NOT BE AFRAID.”
JOHN 14:27
PEACE FOR THE FRONTIER
Nearly 1.9 billion people in the world identify as Muslim, so it is no surprise that many of our frontier partners live and minister in majority Muslim areas. Peace is a central concept in Islam and is integrally linked to the definition of the word Islam : submission to Allah. Muslims can be found in many different regions and cultures, and many are moderate, pious, nonviolent people who try to honor Allah in their lives.
Ethiopians have struggled to find peace this year. Ethnic violence has grown between people of different religious and cultural backgrounds. Communities that once lived together in peace are now divided like never before. For many years, the mostlyMuslim Oromo people group (the largest in Ethiopia) has been marginalized and oppressed by those in power. In recent months, they’ve taken to the streets in protest, crying out for change. They know there can be no peace without justice.
In the face of hostility and injustice, Jesus offers Himself as the way to peace. When we are reconciled to God in Christ, Paul declares that “he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility” (Ephesians 2:14). Through Him, all peoples—Jew and Gentile, Oromo and Amhara, Black and White—have access to the Good News of God’s Kingdom. Enemies are reconciled. Foreigners and strangers become members of God’s family. Christ holds us all together in a unified body, preserving the identity, diversity and distinction of every nation, tribe, people and language.
Christ calls us to be peacemakers—to speak out against injustice and advocate for the oppressed. Let us learn to love our enemies. Let us learn to listen, to be respectful and to resist arguing with one another. As we proclaim Christ’s message of peace, let us do all we can to live it out—that His name may be glorified in us! TUESDAY
ENCOUNTERING PEACE IN SUDAN
A young man from Sudan, the chief of his small tribe of 20 people, had been given an English translation of the Bible. Because he was able to read English, he began exploring its contents. The Scriptures spoke of Jesus’ love for him, and he soon became a follower of Christ.
Although he was the chief, he wasn’t the most important person in his community. There was an animistic witch doctor (medicine man) who was elevated in the eyes of the tribe. He depended on the worship of spirits and wore charms to give him power and peace of mind.
The newly-Christian leader and the witch doctor were inevitably in conflict. One day, the witch doctor’s daughter fell ill, and none of his charms or potions were effective in bringing her the healing she needed. In desperation, he asked the chief to pray for her healing. Miraculously, God healed her! The medicine man was grateful, but he was unwilling to let go of his charms, potions and influential role in the tribe.
The daughter’s sickness returned, and once again the witch doctor came to the Christian leader to ask for prayers of healing. The chief, with great wisdom and discernment, shared that he was instead compelled to pray for God to heal the medicine man’s heart and bring him new life in Jesus—that he would worship the true God and not fleeting spirits. God again answered the chief’s prayer! The witch doctor came to faith in Jesus and, with his elevated position in the tribe, led the whole village into Christ’s redemption, too!
As a sign of his commitment to Christ, the former witch doctor cut all the charms off his coat and threw them away. The other members of the community followed, doing away with the need to wear charms and worship other spirits. JESUS BECAME THEIR PEACE, BOTH PERSONALLY AND INTERPERSONALLY. The former witch doctor, now a new creation in Christ, uses his knowledge of herbs and homeopathy—working alongside other Christians—to help bring Jesus’ healing, peace and transformation to their community.
PRAYING FOR PEACE IN THE MUSLIM WORLD
Many Muslims consider Islam a religion of peace, but in a world full of conflict, violence, pandemic and uncertainty, peace is hard to find. Join the global family of God in praying that Muslims in Ethiopia, South Sudan and throughout the world would experience the true peace and fullness that comes from Christ’s sacrifice on the cross (Colossians 1:19-20).
PRAY THAT:
Muslims would have a fuller revelation of Isa al-Masih (Jesus the Messiah) and His character.
Those living with deep burdens and fear would instead find peace in God.
God will give you and Christians worldwide a heart full of compassion and love toward our Muslim neighbors.
“I HAVE TOLD YOU THESE THINGS, SO THAT IN ME YOU MAY HAVE PEACE. IN THIS WORLD YOU WILL HAVE TROUBLE. BUT TAKE HEART! I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.” —JOHN 16:33
EXPLORE TOOLS TO HELP YOU INTERCEDE FOR THE MUSLIM WORLD AND OTHER LEAST-REACHED PEOPLES AT FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM/PRAY
THURSDAY DECEMBER 10
FRIDAY DECEMBER 11
A PERSONAL CALL TO PEACE
READ PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7.
Too often we live in a state of anxiety about our world, our nation and ourselves. The inner peace we so desperately seek can be elusive when chaos whirls around us. Distress and worry come at a great cost—physically, emotionally and spiritually. Spend some time today reflecting on the peace of God that passes understanding. Reread Sunday’s prayer and reflect on each section. Invite God’s Spirit to search your heart for pockets of fear, anxiety and worry. Gather your anxious thoughts in the journal space below or in your mind and offer them to God. Practice trusting that He will guard your heart and mind in Jesus.
USE THIS SPACE TO WRITE YOUR THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, PRAYERS + QUESTIONS ABOUT PEACE: (additional space for notes is provided on Pages 44-47)
PEACE IN ACTION
CREATE SPACE FOR GOD TO INSPIRE PEACE IN YOUR LIFE BY ENGAGING IN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:
Read and meditate on Isaiah 26:3 and John 14:27.
Look at news headlines today and make a list of the articles that point to places, events and people that seem to lack peace. Pray for these things, asking the Holy Spirit to bring peace to these areas. Consider writing the names of people, places and events needing peace on sticky notes. Place them in prominent locations around your house to prompt you to pray throughout the week.
Examine your own life and notice places where you feel restless, anxious or afraid. Offer those concerns to God.
Consider people in your circle of family and friends with whom you experience discord. Pray for opportunities to make overtures of peace with them.
Consider ways you can be a person of peace to immigrants, refugees and other diaspora people groups in your community.
JOIN OUR GLOBAL PARTNERS AS THEY CARRY THE PEACE OF JESUS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES THIS CHRISTMAS AT: FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM/CHRISTMAS
“FOR
YOU HAVE BEEN MY HELP, AND IN THE SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS I WILL SING FOR JOY. MY SOUL CLINGS TO YOU; YOUR RIGHT HAND UPHOLDS ME.”
PSALM 63:7-8 (ESV)
INVITATION TO JOY
As shepherds were tending their flocks the night Jesus was born, an angel appeared and said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11 ESV).
(If you’re lighting candles on your Advent wreath, follow the candle icons below.)
JESUS IS OUR HOPE.
JESUS BRINGS US PEACE.
JESUS FILLS OUR HEART WITH JOY.
Because of Christ, we are invited into the joy that is promised in God’s Word. We pray each of us will experience joy through Christ. We also pray that least-reached peoples still waiting to hear the Good News of God’s Kingdom will soon experience the great joy of knowing Jesus.
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THESE PASSAGES OF JOY AND REFLECT ON THE QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT YOUR DAY:
JOHN 15:10 - 12
What does it mean that your joy is full or complete?
MATTHEW 2:9-10
How does Jesus’ entrance into the world bring you joy?
PSALM 16:11
In what ways does God’s presence bring you joy?
LUKE 15:7
Who might you pray for to cause this kind of celebration in heaven?
Continue to pray for all people to experience joy in Christ.
A THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON JOY
READ ISAIAH 35:1-2, 10; LUKE 1:26-38, 46-55 + PHILIPPIANS 4:4-5.
We live in the already and the not yet time between Jesus’ resurrection and His future return. Despite Christ’s victory over death, the world is still deeply broken. The joy we might often experience during the holidays seems especially elusive this year—has anyone escaped the host of global challenges 2020 has offered?
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians from the seemingly joyless setting of a prison cell. Yet, the key theme of Philippians is joyfulness. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” (4:4). How is this possible? Because, as Paul affirmed, joy is a demonstration that one is in touch with God—that one knows God in good times and in difficult times.
Paul gave thanks for who God is , for what God has done and for what God will do . Joy is the hopeful anticipation of Christ’s return, when He will right all wrongs, heal all wounds and reconcile and restore all of creation. For now, suffering and joy are companions as we look forward to the fulfillment of God’s promises while waiting for them to be fulfilled.
Advent invites us to expectant, genuine joy in the midst of sorrow. This is Mary’s joy, under the boot of Roman occupation, now pregnant and unwed. She sings, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47). He would come “to bring good news to the poor…to proclaim release to the captives...to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19).
Mary’s joy drew from her people group’s history with God and her own experience with God’s faithfulness. She believed the prophecies and promises. Her joy overflowed when she learned that the long-awaited Savior’s arrival was imminent and that she had been chosen to bear Him into the world.
How might you make space for God’s joy this Advent season? Remember God’s promises. Recall your history of God’s faithfulness. Consider how God has called you to bear Jesus, the Savior, into a waiting world.
TUESDAY DECEMBER 15
JOY FOR THE FRONTIER
Several of our ministry partners live and work in India, home to the vast majority of more than 1 billion people who identify as Hindu worldwide. Hindus recognize Brahman as the supreme being, as well as countless other deities who govern different aspects of creation. For Hindus, Ānanda (happiness, joy or eternal bliss) defines one’s highest state of being. It signifies a release from all the shackles of life, as well as from the cycle of reincarnation, and represents complete union with Brahman.
The path leading to joy in the Hindu world is arduous, requiring worship rituals, offerings and sacrifices to the gods. Many Hindus struggle in their daily lives to find the promised bliss. Hindu festivals might offer a taste of joy through celebration, but many feel weary from endless efforts and uncertain returns. In times of crisis especially, the gods do not seem to answer questions about life and meaning. “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened…you will find rest for your souls...my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus sacrificed Himself in order to free us from a life of striving and an uncertain future. In Christ, eternal joy or bliss is communion with our Maker, not union. We do not dissolve into, or become part of, God. Rather, we become His. In Christ, we are the beloved. As we abide in His love we are promised joy—not just someday, but also in the midst of any circumstance life might throw our way today. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).
One of our partners in India recently shared, “My mother died when I was around ten years old, and I grew in isolation and with lack of love. Festivals and rituals were meaningless for me because I did not see my mother. The gods did not respond to my cries. When I prayed to Jesus, He quickly answered and filled me with His peace and joy. And this joy remains with me all the time.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOU CAN PARTNER WITH GOD’S WORK AMONG HINDUS AND OTHER LEAST-REACHED PEOPLE GROUPS AT
ENCOUNTERING JOY IN INDIA
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 16
Most of India’s 1.3 billion people live in unreached people groups. Our partners in India are passionate about sharing the Good News of Jesus with those who’ve never heard it. Last year alone, one network of church planters shared the message of Christ with more than 1.3 million people, and over 300,000 decided to follow Him— Jai Masih Ki (Praise God)!
Aarav, a new follower of Jesus, shared his family’s story:
“I heard of Jesus for the first time when two people came to my village last June. The visitors told me all about Jesus and how He loved me so much that He died for me. Listening to the church planter, I realized how different Jesus was from all the other gods I struggled to appease, and I decided to follow Christ.
At the time, my wife Preeti was very sick with kidney problems, so I asked the church planter to come to our house and pray for her. Within a week she was completely healed!
OVERWHELMED WITH UNCONTAINABLE JOY AND GRATITUDE, PREETI GATHERED 23 OF OUR FELLOW VILLAGERS TOGETHER AND INVITED THE CHURCH PLANTER TO SHARE ABOUT JESUS. As a result, all of them have decided to follow Jesus, 17 have taken ‘holy baths’ and my wife is a new house church leader in our village!”
In a year full of challenges, it’s stories like these that surprise us with joy as we remember God’s faithfulness, celebrate His miracles and give thanks for His many blessings!
“BUT LET ALL WHO TAKE REFUGE IN YOU REJOICE; LET THEM SING JOYFUL PRAISES FOREVER. SPREAD YOUR PROTECTION OVER THEM, THAT ALL WHO LOVE YOUR NAME MAY BE FILLED WITH JOY.” —PSALM 5:11 (NLT)
PRAYING FOR JOY IN THE HINDU WORLD
In their search for the meaning of life, Hindus engage in ritualistic worship to earn good karma and a better station in the next life. The world’s Hindus do not yet know the one true God who shows the way of life and grants joy in His presence (Psalm 16:11). Join the global Church in praying that the over 1 billion Hindus worldwide will find joy in Christ.
PRAY THAT:
Christians would bring the Good News of Jesus to Hindu families and communities around the world who have not yet heard it.
Bible translation efforts would be fruitful to provide Hindus access to the Gospel in a language that they understand.
Hindus would be drawn by the joy that Jesus offers.
“YOU MAKE KNOWN TO ME THE PATH OF LIFE; YOU WILL FILL ME WITH JOY IN YOUR PRESENCE, WITH ETERNAL PLEASURES AT YOUR RIGHT HAND.” —PSALM 16:11
EXPLORE TOOLS TO HELP YOU INTERCEDE FOR THE HINDU WORLD AND OTHER LEAST-REACHED PEOPLES AT FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM/PRAY
THURSDAY DECEMBER 17
FRIDAY
DECEMBER 18
A PERSONAL CALL TO JOY
READ PSALM 16:11 + PSALM 63:6-7.
In a year filled with disappointments, helplessness and uninvited change, we might have struggled to find happiness. But happiness and joy don’t mean the same thing. Happiness is an often fleeting emotional response to a positive circumstance. Joy, however, is a deep sense of contentment and hope that persists even when pain and suffering abound. Joy trusts that God has wonderful plans for us and that Jesus will be with us always. Take time today to invite God’s joy. Reflect on a time you experienced joy in a challenging situation. How did that joy thrive? Has God ever seemed absent or His joy inaccessible? Create space for the Holy Spirit to come and smooth out the rough places within, put balm on hidden wounds and reignite the spark of holy joy that can only come from God.
USE THIS SPACE TO WRITE YOUR THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, PRAYERS + QUESTIONS ABOUT JOY: (additional space for notes is provided on Pages 44-47)
JOY IN ACTION
CREATE SPACE FOR GOD TO INSPIRE JOY IN YOUR LIFE BY ENGAGING IN ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES:
Read John 15:11. Pray that joy would overflow in your heart and in the hearts of your family, friends, community and all peoples of the world.
Go for a leisurely walk. Pay attention to signs of joy expressed in creation.
Listen to Christmas music or other worship music that points to our joy in Jesus.
Scripture says that “a joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22 ESV). While joy cannot be conjured up through human effort, sometimes laughter can serve as a doorway through which God’s joy can enter. What makes you laugh? Engage in one or more of those activities today.
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 and Philippians 4:4-7. Both of these scriptures connect joy with prayer and gratitude to God. Think of someone in your life for whom you’re grateful. Take a moment to pray and thank God for them. Write them a note today expressing your gratitude for them.
JOIN OUR GLOBAL PARTNERS AS THEY CARRY THE JOY OF JESUS TO THEIR COMMUNITIES
THIS CHRISTMAS AT: FRONTIERFELLOWSHIP.COM/CHRISTMAS
“A NEW COMMAND I GIVE YOU: LOVE ONE ANOTHER. AS I HAVE LOVED YOU, SO YOU MUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER.”
JOHN
13:34 (NIV)
INVITATION TO LOVE
Take a moment to pause in silence. Be still and breathe deeply.
Make a mental or physical list of the thoughts, emotions and hopes you are bringing with you into this final week of Advent. Sit with intention and honesty as you reflect. Bring your list before God as an offering to Him.
Pause for another moment, breathing deeply again.
(If you’re lighting candles on your Advent wreath, follow the candle icons below.)
JESUS IS OUR HOPE.
JESUS BRINGS US PEACE.
JESUS FILLS OUR HEART WITH JOY.
Read John 3:16-17. JESUS LOVES US.
God loves the world so much that He sent Jesus to save us and give us new, flourishing life. We pray that every person on earth would some day soon know the love of God in Christ Jesus.
AS WE ENTER THE LAST WEEK OF ADVENT, WE TURN TO THE LOVE THAT JESUS BRINGS AS WE WALK WITH HIM.
Reflect on how you have experienced God’s love—in nature, in relationships, in your faith journey, in Scripture.
What signs do you see of God’s love for the world?
Using Ephesians 3:14-21 as a guide, join the global family of God in praying that the world would know the full measure of Christ’s love.
A THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION ON LOVE
READ 1 JOHN 4:7-10.
We’re not used to thinking of love as a person, let alone a source of knowledge or truth on which we can build our lives. Perhaps that is because love and desire are so often conflated in our dominant cultural voices. Yet our hearts are dissonant when desire becomes fickle and consuming rather than empowering and giving.
C.S. Lewis outlines four ways that love is manifest in his aptly titled The Four Loves —affection, friendship, romance and charity. He indicates that one love in particular puts all the others in proper perspective—charity: the self-giving, unconditional love of God.
In this season of Advent, we’re reminded that love is something concrete. It is a relationship that is the basis of knowledge on which we can truly live. It is incarnational. It is the Word made flesh in Jesus. God is love and came into the world that we might have a return path to the overwhelming goodness of life in Him.
The late philosopher and author Dallas Willard was once asked if churches should send missionaries into the world. “Oh, yes, absolutely. To help people to know about Christ…That’s the most important knowledge on earth. What would be more important than to know that God loves the world that much?”
“This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God” (1 John 4:10 MSG).
“We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). May you sense God’s love for you today. Pray for those around the world who have not yet heard the Good News of God’s Kingdom and don’t know God’s love. Ask that barriers to the knowledge of His preeminent love would be removed so that people might know Him.
TUESDAY
DECEMBER 22
LOVE FOR THE FRONTIER
Muslims believe that God will love those who live in ways that are considered good and right, such as being pure and clean, doing good, being patient and persevering and loving and following the prophet Muhammad. They say that God does not love those who live their lives in corrupt, unbelieving, boastful, wasteful or treacherous ways.
At first glance, many of these characteristics of an upright life are similar to what the Christian scriptures teach: love one another as Jesus has loved you, give up your deceitful ways, clothe yourselves in Christ.
The primary and life-defining difference between Muslim and Christian views of love is that Christians believe God’s love is unconditional. It does not need to be earned. God graciously loves us and invites us into an intimate relationship as adopted children and heirs to His Kingdom through Christ!
As we receive God’s love, follow Jesus and invite the Spirit into our lives, God gives us power to love others and to live in a way that honors Him and all peoples. What a relief this is to us and to any who’ve felt they never deserved God’s love or anyone else’s!
As you prepare to celebrate Jesus’ arrival, rest in the richness of God’s love. Pray for the grace to love others, and pray that more Muslims—and all peoples on the frontier—will experience God’s love through Jesus.
ENCOUNTERING LOVE IN THE UNITED STATES
In Chicago, a small group of Christians and Muslims from a local church and mosque meet together regularly to study their holy books—the Bible and the Quran—together. During one gathering, a member of the local mosque, Nermin, announced to the group that he had something on his mind and wished to share with everyone present. The group was eager to hear what was on his heart and invited him to continue.
Nermin said, “Allah says that when you see something holier or better in another person, and you fail to mention it, it is considered a sin.” He paused, and then continued, “For the past five years, I have observed that your church feeds the hungry, houses the homeless and clothes those who need clothing. Our mosque does none of these acts of compassion or outreach, and I am convicted that this is wrong. My question is, can we Muslims from our mosque join you Christians in your service projects? We feel that by doing so, and by being close to you, we will draw nearer to God.”
From that moment on, this group of Muslims and Christians have served side by side in numerous service projects around the city. As the Christians faithfully embody Christ’s love to their community, they are also learning to love and appreciate their Muslim friends in deeper ways. Likewise, the Muslims in this group, along with their families and friends, are encountering the love of God through Jesus in a way they might have never understood Isa al-Masih (Jesus the Messiah) before—some have even expressed a desire to walk more closely with Him. Members of both communities are growing together in compassion and friendship, and God is being glorified at the center of it all!
CELEBRATING LOVE’S ARRIVAL
THURSDAY DECEMBER 24
Tonight, we celebrate the reality that Love has come. Jesus came to earth as love personified, so that all might have life.
THIS IS GOOD NEWS OF GREAT JOY!
At the same time, we live in the tension of the already and the not yet. We long for Christ’s return as we rest in the promise that the fullness of His love is already available to us. It comes without qualifiers or prerequisites and is freely extended to all.
We pray that this devotional has drawn you nearer to God in your own life, while also compelling you to extend Christ’s hope, peace, joy and love to the frontier—the more than 2 billion people worldwide who lack access to the Gospel. As we rejoice in the arrival of our Savior this Christmas Eve, let us intercede for those still waiting to hear about Immanuel: the God who is with us.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Today is Christmas Day and we rejoice that Christ has entered the world. God is with us! Thank you for joining us on this Advent journey. May you continue to grow in your love and understanding of Jesus. And may the hope, peace, joy and love He inspires in you overflow in acts of compassion toward those still waiting to hear the Good News of God’s Kingdom.
READ MATTHEW 2:1-12.
(If you’re lighting candles on your Advent wreath, follow the candle icons below.)
CHRIST HAS COME AND GIVEN US:
HOPE
(FIRST CANDLE)
PEACE
(SECOND CANDLE)
+ LOVE
(THIRD CANDLE)
(FOURTH CANDLE)
CHRIST IS THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE! (CHRIST CANDLE)
Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10 ESV). Offer prayers of thanksgiving to Jesus for the hope, peace, joy and love His presence brings to your life. Ask that all peoples of the earth would soon experience abundant life through Him!
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit ” (Romans 15:13 NLT).
