Advent Devotional: Day 17

In the Old Testament, the Law required that a charge or allegation be verified by the testimony of two or three witnesses (Deuteronomy 19:15).  Jesus alluded to this in John 5:30-47, when he summoned four witnesses to confirm his identity as Messiah: (1) John the Baptist, (2) miraculous works, (3) the Father, and (4) the Scriptures.  All of these witnesses testify to the fact that Jesus is the Christ, but which do you find the most convincing?  The star witness, providing irrefutable evidence, is number four – the Scriptures.  People can lie, deceive or make mistakes, and miracles can be counterfeited, but “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Rom. 10:17).  The Word of God brings light, wisdom, conviction, and salvation to the human heart.  But there’s one thing even greater than the Scriptures.  Christ himself.

As you’ve been reading the Scriptures each day in this devotional, are you drawing nearer to Christ?  Enjoying him more?  Being transformed into his likeness?  That’s the joy and purpose of reading the Scriptures.

Prayer: Father, thank You for giving us Your written Word to guide us and instruct us.  Open my eyes to see Christ; open my heart to receive Christ; and open my understanding to follow Christ, the Living Word.

For Reflection & Discussion:
What has God been teaching you lately in his word?

New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation