By Ron Radcliffe

I recently found a Christmas wish list I made when I was younger. Each item was rated with a number of stars, one to five, depending on how badly I wanted it. The number one thing on the list was a new puppy.

This sort of wish list can seem foolish and childish, especially since our wants differ from our needs as we grow up. Yet Jesus tells us, “Ask, and it will be given you” (Matthew 7:7). What is it that will be given to us? Some pretty radical things, actually, according to the psalmist: everything from food to justice, freedom, sight, and the love and care of God himself.

It can feel odd asking for these and other things, especially if we aren’t kids anymore. But asking for what we need is actually a way of saying to God, “I can’t do this on my own. I need your help.” It puts us back in our rightful place when we say, “God, I need your help. You are God, and I am not.” This is an act of worship to God, the only one who deserves our worship and provides everything for us, even our basic needs like food. And this move of asking God for things, big or little, also reminds us to thank God for provision—for it is God who provides. He is the one who provides food to people who are hungry, freedom to people who are oppressed, and sight to people who are blind.

What are you lacking in this season? Are you tired? Ask the Lord for strength. Are you hungry? Ask him for food. Are you unclear about what path to take next? Ask the Lord for direction. There is nothing too big or too small for God. He is the God of the universe and the God of Jacob. The God of the big and the small. Take time to bring all your cares to God today. For, “how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).

Prayer: God, you did not withhold even your most precious relationship from us, sending your only Son in the fullness of time to meet our most pressing need. Help us trust your love enough to ask for all our remaining needs, big and small.

Ron Radcliffe is working with Luminex Collaborative to plant a church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with his wife Anna. The 2016 Advent devotions were written by RCA church planters and parent churches.

By Patricia Simmons

Our Scripture passage begins with John the Baptist holding accountable those trying to escape the consequences of their sin. The Bible says the wages of sin is death, and to John this is the wrath of God.

When John says to bear fruit worthy of repentance, he means for his listeners to take swift action with sincere hearts that want change. In verse 7, he mentions the Sadducees and Pharisees wanting to be baptized, yet not displaying fruit or evidence of repentance. They appear to be good, but their hearts are evil; therefore, they are living contrary to the will of God.

John’s words are meant to bring all of Israel (and you and me) to a place of repentance. Each of us is called to take a thorough inventory of the condition of our heart and repent of sin. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 God says, “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

Israelites were not to think that because Abraham was their ancestor, they need not change their ways, for God is able to raise up stones to be Abraham’s children. If you don’t bear fruit, says John, you will be cut down like a tree that is only good for the fire. We are also reminded that as John’s baptism calls God’s people to repentance, Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit who gives power to turn from sin, draw closer to Jesus, and live for God. We are further warned of the unquenchable fire that will come when we live contrary to the will of God.

In Advent, we wait for our Savior, our Messiah who is coming again; yet while we wait, let us continue to grow spiritually into mature Christians, bearing good fruit. Let us arise and shine for Christ is with us! Though we recognize Advent as a time to celebrate Christ’s birth, it is also symbolic of our present situation. As people of God, we wait in these perilous days with great hope for Christ to return in glory. May the promises of God be with us. Come, Lord Jesus!

Prayer: Lord God, convict our hearts of the secret sins only you know. Prune us, for we want to bear good fruit, walk in your will, and celebrate your kingdom come!

Patricia Simmons is part of the RCA’s church planter residency program. The 2016 Advent devotions were written by RCA church planters and parent churches.

By Chris Hall

What’s so special about hope? We throw the word around a lot this time of year. Paul seems to believe it gives us the strength we need to endure the pain and struggles of this life. It even helps us “glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” But how?

Some day (hopefully a long time from now) you will breathe your last breath. Your pulse will flat line and you will assume room temperature. As a Christian, your story won’t be different. Your earthly body will die.

But one of the precious and powerful promises from Scripture is eternal life (1 John 2:25). Yes, though you stop breathing, in Christ you will live on forever in the presence of the King. No more tears or pain. No cancer or stress. No injustice or sin. Streets of gold. All of it!

Consider how freeing that is. Because your forever has been purchased by the blood of the Lamb, you can live today in the fullness of his love without fear of death. And since he works all things for our ultimate good, he gives our today—even our suffering—deep, eternal meaning.

Now when he says, “Be not afraid,” you can actually obey because what is the worst that could happen? You stop breathing and get to be with the lover of your soul forever? Not bad for a worst-case scenario.

With that hope, you are free to live life loved, free from fear, and free to bask in his love. You are free to live a life so radically different from this hurting world that it will cause people to ask you questions that have gospel answers. Because of hope, your life will “glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Prayer: God, from Old Testament to New, your Word proclaims that we have hope in Jesus. Thank you for his birth, life, death, resurrection, and work to prepare a place for us, so that we can be free of the fear of death!

Chris Hall is pastor of Elevation Church in Wyoming, Michigan. The 2016 Advent devotions were written by RCA church planters and parent churches.

By Rob Link

The music industry in the United States generated $15 billion in 2012. The global music industry generated $50 billion that year.

That’s a lot of money.

People pay big bucks to sing along with their favorite tunes. Most of us happily contribute to this multi-billion dollar business. We love songs and we love to sing along (though for some this is only true as long as no one else can hear!).

What if all that singing is a reflection of something deeper? What if it points to a reality that all of us were made to praise the King of kings? Maybe we sing along with Justin Timberlake or Taylor Swift or Drake in a subconscious effort to meet our inborn need to praise.

Here are three facts:

1. We were made to praise.
2. Singing along with Justin, Taylor, Drake, and their cohorts will never satiate our God-given—albeit subconscious, for many—need to worship.
3. God is much more worthy of our voices raised in song than the topics on the pop chart.

Here is a suggestion: Let’s take our love of song and direct it solely to the coming of Jesus this Advent. “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things. Blessed be his glorious name forever; may his glory fill the whole earth. Amen and Amen” (vv. 18-19).

Let’s put aside our favorite pop culture stuff for the season and bust out the worship tunes. Let’s set aside the norm and embrace the carols. Just for a month—only worship and Christmas tunes.

I think I’ll give it a try this Advent. Would you like to join me?

Prayer: God of wondrous things, may the wonder of Christ’s coming, as told by hundreds of writers in hundreds of songs, fill our hearts and mouths again these days.

Rob Link is pastor of The River in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The 2016 Advent devotions were written by RCA church planters and parent churches.

By Nate Bull

When I reflect on Psalm 72, one of the things that comes to mind is the major influence the spirit realm has on the natural realm. Some would even go so far as to say the spirit realm dominates the natural realm.

Here, the writer, King Solomon, asks God to lead him in righteous ruling of the people and justice for the afflicted. But look at what seems obvious to Solomon, what naturally follows righteous and just ruling: mountains that bring prosperity, abundance of rain, righteous flourishing, and prosperity abounding. Is it possible that when a nation lacks just and righteous rulers that a natural result is famine, lack, plagues, and the coming to power of the ungodly? Not just possible, probable. Consider the sobering words of 2 Chronicles 7:13-15: “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.”

In this Advent season, our crying out for righteous rulers and the coming of the righteous King isn’t only something spiritual. It has the potential to prevent natural disasters, foster economic growth, or help godly leaders come to power. We’re not asking for an economic boost because that’s not the root of the problem. We’re asking for the advent of submission to the true King. All these other blessings are a by-product of his reign in our lives and in our nation.

Prayer: God, reign over our world and help us submit to you. Break our hearts for what breaks yours, use us for your kingdom come, bless us by breaking us of our sin, and heal our land.

Nate Bull is pastor of Forefront Ministries in Benton Harbor, Michigan, and is starting a ministry house in Detroit. The 2016 Advent devotions were written by RCA church planters and parent churches.