The Advent Podcast from Apostles By-the-Sea

Apostles By-the-Sea Advent Podcast
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An Advent Podcast from Apostles By-the-Sea in Rosemary Beach

  1. 12/24/2020

    Advent Podcast - Episode 23 - Christmas Eve

    The Birth of Christ Luke 2:1-20 - Read by John Ellis, Jr. 1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,     and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger. 17 When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Reflection Considering all of the difficulties of this past year, it is particularly refreshing to read Luke’s account of the birth of Christ and hear the heavenly host declare a message of good news and great joy. The Messiah has come, and with him the fulfilled promise of eternal peace with God, as well as the ability to live at peace with one another. True peace is ours when God is with us. In the early part of his ministry, John Wesley sailed to America with a group of Moravians, and during a violent storm at sea, Wesley was dismayed to find that he did not possess the same peace in the face of death as the Moravians.  Not long after, Wesley experienced a heart-warming experience of true conversion that resulted in peace because he knew that God was with him. Wesley never forgot this fact, and at the end of his life, surrounded by friends, he held the hands of those who loved him and declared, “Best of all, God is with us.” Today, we conclude our Advent devotional and podcast with the declaration of the heavenly host: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”  Peace has come at last!  And best of all, God is with us! Alleluia! Our King and Savior is drawing near! O come, let us adore him!

  2. 12/23/2020

    Advent Podcast - Episode 22 - The Twenty-Fifth Day of Advent

    Mary and Elizabeth Luke 1:39-56 - Read by Harris Willman ​39 In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40 where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord.” 46 And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.     Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,     and holy is his name. 50 His mercy is for those who fear him     from generation to generation. 51 He has shown strength with his arm;     he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,     and lifted up the lowly; 53 he has filled the hungry with good things,     and sent the rich away empty. 54 He has helped his servant Israel,     in remembrance of his mercy, 55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,     to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” 56 And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home. Reflection I once had a professor of New Testament studies who likened the beginning of Luke’s gospel to a musical because, as he said, “people are continually entering the scene and breaking forth in song.” In today’s reading it is Mary who sings, and in her song she declares that God “has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.” Mary places the coming of Christ within the context of the covenant to Abraham. It is a “big picture” view that shows the amazing covenant faithfulness of God to his people in the sending of his Son. Even more amazing is what the progress of Luke's story reveals. Others who were not originally included in the promise, namely the Gentiles, will come to share in this hope and will benefit from the vindication described here. Our assurance is this: Since God remembers his covenant to Israel, we can rest assured that he will remember his promises to us. God's faithfulness to one promise reinforces his faithfulness to the other.  We, as heirs to the promises of God, who always keeps his word, can rejoice that salvation at last has come. Our King and Savior is drawing near! O come, let us adore him!

  3. 12/22/2020

    Advent Podcast - Episode 21 - The Twenty-Fourth Day of Advent

    The Birth of Jesus Foretold Luke 1:26-38 - Read by James Alfred 26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. Reflection ​Of all the ways to be greeted, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you!” has got to be at the top of the list.  This is the greeting the angel Gabriel gave to Mary, and then to calm her fears and confusion, Gabriel told her not to be afraid because she had found favor with God. The word “favor” can also be translated as “grace.” Mary was a particular recipient of God's amazing grace, and while a very special honor was given to Mary to bear the Christ child, all who put their trust in Christ are his favored ones and recipients of his amazing grace. And because Christ, the one called Emmanuel (meaning, God with us) has come, we also share in his presence. “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” Those same words ring true for every born-again child of God, for by his grace the Lord is with us and we also are highly favored, indeed. Our King and Savior is drawing near! O come, let us adore him!

  4. 12/21/2020

    Advent Podcast - Episode 20 - The Twenty-Third Day of Advent

    The People are Reunited with God's Law, but Then They Rebel Nehemiah 8:1-12, Malachi 3 - Read by Kathy Haygood ​1 All the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. 2 Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 4 The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 7 Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. 8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.   9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” 11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” 12 And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.   1See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight—indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap; 3 he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years. 5 Then I will draw near to you for judgment; I will be swift to bear witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired workers in their wages, the widow and the orphan, against those who thrust aside the alien, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts. 6 For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, have not perished. 7 Ever since the days of your ancestors you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, “How shall we return?” 8 Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, “How are we robbing you?” In your tithes and offerings! 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me—the whole nation of you! 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house, and thus put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts; see if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you an overflowing blessing. 11 I will rebuke the locust for you, so that it will not destroy the produce of your soil; and your vine in the field shall not be barren, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will count you happy, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts. 13 You have spoken harsh words against me, says the Lord. Yet you say, “How have we spoken against you?” 14 You have said, “It is vain to serve God. What do we profit by keeping his command or by going about as mourners before the Lord of hosts? 15 Now we count the arrogant happy; evildoers not only prosper, but when they put God to the test they escape.” 16 Then those who revered the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord took note and listened, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the Lord and thought on his name. 17 They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, my special possession on the day when I act, and I will spare them as parents spare their children who serve them. 18 Then once more you shall see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.   Reflection The context of our passage from Nehemiah is the reading of the Book of the Law to all the people. Initially, the people received it with tears, but were quickly directed not to weep, rather to celebrate. It became a festive time. However, as our reading from Malachi shows, it didn’t last; the people soon forgot, just as they had forgotten many times before. Malachi’s message is a difficult one, but it’s not without hope. Beginning in verse 16 we read that some people did remember, and they revered God.  As they spoke to one another, God “took note and listened,” and then “a book of remembrance was written before him of those who revered the Lord and thought on his name.”  God’s response was: “They shall be mine… my special possession on the day when I act.” Advent is a time to remember and celebrate that we are Christ’s “special possession.” As such, we wait with confidence for his inevitable return, and we celebrate with great joy.  I find it compelling that the celebration described by Nehemiah included the loving act of sending food to those for whom nothing was prepared.  What a beautiful way to celebrate Advent, remembering how God’s care for his “special possession” overflowed in generosity for those less fortunate. This season, let us remember our neighbors in need and do the same. Our King and Savior is drawing near! O come, let us adore him!

  5. 12/19/2020

    Advent Podcast - Episode 19 - The Twenty-First Day of Advent

    Jonah and the Whale Jonah 1-3 - Read by Meredith Tumlin 1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid his fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. 4 But the Lord hurled a great wind upon the sea, and such a mighty storm came upon the sea that the ship threatened to break up. 5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried to his god. They threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea, to lighten it for them. Jonah, meanwhile, had gone down into the hold of the ship and had lain down, and was fast asleep. 6 The captain came and said to him, “What are you doing sound asleep? Get up, call on your god! Perhaps the god will spare us a thought so that we do not perish.” 7 The sailors said to one another, “Come, let us cast lots, so that we may know on whose account this calamity has come upon us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 Then they said to him, “Tell us why this calamity has come upon us. What is your occupation? Where do you come from? What is your country? And of what people are you?” 9 “I am a Hebrew,” he replied. “I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.” 10 Then the men were even more afraid, and said to him, “What is this that you have done!” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them so. 11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea was growing more and more tempestuous. 12 He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you; for I know it is because of me that this great storm has come upon you.” 13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring the ship back to land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more stormy against them. 14 Then they cried out to the Lord, “Please, O Lord, we pray, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life. Do not make us guilty of innocent blood; for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” 15 So they picked Jonah up and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord even more, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. 17  But the Lord provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.   1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying, “I called to the Lord out of my distress,     and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried,     and you heard my voice. 3 You cast me into the deep,     into the heart of the seas,     and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows     passed over me. 4 Then I said, ‘I am driven away     from your sight; how shall I look again     upon your holy temple?’ 5 The waters closed in over me;     the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped around my head 6     at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land     whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the Pit,     O Lord my God. 7 As my life was ebbing away,     I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came to you,     into your holy temple. 8 Those who worship vain idols     forsake their true loyalty. 9 But I with the voice of thanksgiving     will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay.     Deliverance belongs to the Lord!” 10 Then the Lord spoke to the fish, and it spewed Jonah out upon the dry land.   1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2 “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. 6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 Then he had a proclamation made in Nineveh: “By the decree of the king and his nobles: No human being or animal, no herd or flock, shall taste anything. They shall not feed, nor shall they drink water. 8 Human beings and animals shall be covered with sackcloth, and they shall cry mightily to God. All shall turn from their evil ways and from the violence that is in their hands. 9 Who knows? God may relent and change his mind; he may turn from his fierce anger, so that we do not perish.” 10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do it.   Reflection Our reading today includes most of the familiar story of Jonah. The reading ends at chapter 3 and that might cause us to wonder what ultimately happened to Jonah. The question is never answered, however, even in the final chapter of the book. The main reason for this is that the focus of the story is really on God, not Jonah. The story shows us how God is merciful and faithful to his promises. God saw the repentance of the Ninevites and turned away from his anger so that they would not perish. God’s merciful and loving action to deliver the perishing should have a familiar ring to it; John 3:16 tells us that God “gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.” We don’t know what ultimately happened to Jonah, but we do know that the loving, merciful God sent his Son to rescue the perishing, and because he is the faithful, promise-keeping God, we can be assured that he will return just as he promised. Our King and Savior is drawing near! O come, let us adore him!

  6. 12/18/2020

    Advent Podcast - Episode 18 - The Twentieth Day of Advent

    Daniel in the Lion's Den Daniel 6 - Read by Summer, Anna Charles, and James Ellis ​1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, stationed throughout the whole kingdom, 2 and over them three presidents, including Daniel; to these the satraps gave account, so that the king might suffer no loss. 3 Soon Daniel distinguished himself above all the other presidents and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king planned to appoint him over the whole kingdom. 4 So the presidents and the satraps tried to find grounds for complaint against Daniel in connection with the kingdom. But they could find no grounds for complaint or any corruption, because he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption could be found in him. 5 The men said, “We shall not find any ground for complaint against this Daniel unless we find it in connection with the law of his God.”   6 So the presidents and satraps conspired and came to the king and said to him, “O King Darius, live forever! 7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the prefects and the satraps, the counselors and the governors are agreed that the king should establish an ordinance and enforce an interdict, that whoever prays to anyone, divine or human, for thirty days, except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions. 8 Now, O king, establish the interdict and sign the document, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and the Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 9 Therefore King Darius signed the document and interdict.   10 Although Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he continued to go to his house, which had windows in its upper room open toward Jerusalem, and to get down on his knees three times a day to pray to his God and praise him, just as he had done previously. 11 The conspirators came and found Daniel praying and seeking mercy before his God. 12 Then they approached the king and said concerning the interdict, “O king! Did you not sign an interdict, that anyone who prays to anyone, divine or human, within thirty days except to you, O king, shall be thrown into a den of lions?” The king answered, “The thing stands fast, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which cannot be revoked.” 13 Then they responded to the king, “Daniel, one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, O king, or to the interdict you have signed, but he is saying his prayers three times a day.”   14 When the king heard the charge, he was very much distressed. He was determined to save Daniel, and until the sun went down he made every effort to rescue him. 15 Then the conspirators came to the king and said to him, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no interdict or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.” 16 Then the king gave the command, and Daniel was brought and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to Daniel, “May your God, whom you faithfully serve, deliver you!” 17 A stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet and with the signet of his lords, so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. 18 Then the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; no food was brought to him, and sleep fled from him.   19 Then, at break of day, the king got up and hurried to the den of lions. 20 When he came near the den where Daniel was, he cried out anxiously to Daniel, “O Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God whom you faithfully serve been able to deliver you from the lions?” 21 Daniel then said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent his angel and shut the lions’ mouths so that they would not hurt me, because I was found blameless before him; and also before you, O king, I have done no wrong.” 23 Then the king was exceedingly glad and commanded that Daniel be taken up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no kind of harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.  ​ Reflection Several of the books of the Old Testament are attributed to the prophets - those who God used to speak messages of warning, truth, repentance, direction and encouragement to his people.  Typically, God’s messages came through prophets, or sometimes angels, but on a few occasions God used some very unexpected messengers, and King Darius was one of those messengers. Darius was a pagan, but when he saw the faith of Daniel and witnessed how God protected him from the lions, he was convinced that the God of Daniel was THE God. As such, Darius issued a royal decree to all people and nations to “tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,” because , “he is the living God, enduring forever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion has no end. He delivers and rescues.”  Advent is a perfect time to tell others about Jesus, our living God, who delivers and rescues sinners.  Tell them the good news that he has come to save, and is coming back again to claim his own.  God speaks through all kinds of people. He spoke through King Darius, and he can speak a message of good news through you. Our King and Savior is drawing near! O come, let us adore him!

  7. 12/17/2020

    Advent Podcast - Episode 17 - The Nineteenth Day of Advent

    Messianic Prophecies Isaiah 9:1-7 - Read by David Wallace ​1  But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2  The people who walked in darkness     have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness--     on them light has shined. 3 You have multiplied the nation,     you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you     as with joy at the harvest,     as people exult when dividing plunder. 4 For the yoke of their burden,     and the bar across their shoulders,     the rod of their oppressor,     you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors     and all the garments rolled in blood     shall be burned as fuel for the fire. 6 For a child has been born for us,     a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders;     and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,     Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 His authority shall grow continually,     and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom.     He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness     from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Reflection When Isaiah prophesied about the coming of the “Wonderful Counselor” he was urging Israel to remember their Messiah was indeed coming to establish his Kingdom, and he wrote during a period of history that was nothing less than tumultuous. The Assyrians were taking the people into captivity, but Isaiah’s prophecy of the birth of this special child gave Israel the hope they so desperately needed: The child to be born would fulfill the covenant God made with David that Israel would never lack a king to sit on the throne. The child Isaiah refers to is, of course, Jesus and the complete fulfillment of the prophecy will happen at his return. The last year has been very tumultuous for most of us with the COVID-19 pandemic, social and political unrest, wildfires and hurricanes. The world still needs hope, and this passage from Isaiah tells us that hope rests in the Messiah, who is “Wonderful Counselor”.  He always knows what we are going through and what we need. As our Wonderful Counselor we can trust him to hear our concerns and guide us in the right direction, and we can be certain he has our best interests at heart because he loves us (1 John 4:19). Our King and Savior is drawing near! O come, let us adore him!

  8. 12/16/2020

    Advent Podcast - Episode 16 - The Eighteenth Day of Advent

    Naaman and the Girl 2 Kings 5 - Read by Bill Tumlin ​1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man and in high favor with his master, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man, though a mighty warrior, suffered from leprosy. 2 Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. 3 She said to her mistress, “If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.” 4 So Naaman went in and told his lord just what the girl from the land of Israel had said. 5 And the king of Aram said, “Go then, and I will send along a letter to the king of Israel.” He went, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of garments. 6 He brought the letter to the king of Israel, which read, “When this letter reaches you, know that I have sent to you my servant Naaman, that you may cure him of his leprosy.” 7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, “Am I God, to give death or life, that this man sends word to me to cure a man of his leprosy? Just look and see how he is trying to pick a quarrel with me.”   8 But when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent a message to the king, “Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come to me, that he may learn that there is a prophet in Israel.” 9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots, and halted at the entrance of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go, wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored and you shall be clean.” 11 But Naaman became angry and went away, saying, “I thought that for me he would surely come out, and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and would wave his hand over the spot, and cure the leprosy! 12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them, and be clean?” He turned and went away in a rage. 13 But his servants approached and said to him, “Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more, when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” 14 So he went down and immersed himself seven times in the Jordan, according to the word of the man of God; his flesh was restored like the flesh of a young boy, and he was clean. Reflection Naaman was commander of the army of Aram, a place we now call Syria. At the time of this story Joram, king of Israel, considered the Arameans to be a threat - in fact, our story tells us that the slave girl was captured by the Arameans during one of their raids. Naaman is clearly a key character in this story, but today, let us consider another important character, the unnamed and often overlooked slave girl. Slaves were not in a position to offer advice, but this slave girl showed real courage to speak boldly to her mistress. She may have even risked her life by suggesting that help for Naaman should come from a prophet from Israel, rather than Aram. Even more admirable than the slave girl’s display of courage is her concern for the well-being of her captor, which is a model of how Jesus told us to pray – even for our enemies. This kind of prayer brings restoration and healing, and reminds us that when Christ returns, we, like the flesh of Naaman, will be completely restored and healed. Our King and Savior is drawing near! O come, let us adore him!

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An Advent Podcast from Apostles By-the-Sea in Rosemary Beach

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