By Dave Jansen

Thirteen people. That’s it. Just thirteen attendees at our church’s seventh preview service. I think we had more people on the stage at one point than we did in the audience. It seemed like everything was going in the wrong direction. We were shrinking, not growing, and losing momentum, not gaining it—and we were a mere three months from launch. Nothing was going the way I expected it to go. And to make matters worse, I had to give a report to the synod on our progress. I was embarrassed and fully expected them to pull their support, doubting I was the man for the job, or whether God was in this work at all.

I had been so sure of our call to this work, so excited to see Christ build his church through us. But now, I began to question everything. The sadness and frustration of unmet expectations made me doubt myself, God, and even his promises.

These are the doubts I believe ran through the mind of John the Baptist as he languished in prison. He was sure that Jesus was the Messiah, so excited to prepare the way for him. He boldly pointed to Jesus saying, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (John 1:29). People from all over Israel came to him at the Jordan, receiving his baptism and responding to his message. But now everything had gone wrong. As he sat in prison, doubts crept in. Now in place of declarations came questions. “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” (v. 2).

The same happens to us when we encounter unexpected troubles. We begin to wonder if God is real, if he cares about us, and if we’ve been fools to put our faith in him. The answers we were once so sure of suddenly become questions again.

So what should we do? John didn’t start asking around to see what others thought of Jesus, he didn’t poll the religious experts of his day, nor did he just decide in his own mind what was true. No, he went straight to the source. He went to Jesus and asked his questions. And Jesus’ response shows that he isn’t asking for blind faith from us—but rather for faith in line with reason. He basically says, “Examine the evidence for yourself. What do you see and hear in me? Does it match up with who the Messiah is to be? The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the gospel is preached to those living in poverty. If that’s what the Messiah is supposed to do, then rejoice! You’ve got no reason to doubt.”

The Advent lesson is this: if things haven’t gone as expected and frustrations have raised questions in your mind, then go to Jesus with your doubts. Hear him out. Consider the ways he’s healed you. Consider his fulfillment of Scripture. His actions speak for themselves. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, just be sure you look to him for the answer. For even though things may go painfully wrong, he is still your Savior, healer, and friend. All evidence points to him as the fulfillment of God’s promises to you. You may be stuck in some sort of prison, but you can rejoice knowing that Jesus is still Jesus—the Savior of the world and healer of your heart.

Prayer: God, we come to you with our questions. To whom else could we turn, for you have the words of life? Help us hear. Help us trust.

Dave Jansen is pastor of CenterPoint Church in Lewis Center, Ohio. The 2016 Advent devotions were written by RCA church planters and parent churches.

By Yakuv Gurung

My four-year-old son often complains that waiting is boring. It is true that waiting is hard, boring, and irritating for most of us. However, as I travel, I have observed people who are waiting for planes or buses who also seem relaxed and engaged in reading, talking, or listening to music. And I’ve observed that their hearts are at peace and their faces are smiling. Yet they’re waiting, so why? They are certain that their planes or buses will arrive on time. They will soon be at home, work, or another desired place. This certainty makes them relaxed and peaceful, yet engaged in activities.

In a similar manner, James talks emphatically about waiting for the Lord’s coming. He is confident of the Lord’s return, but asks his audience to be patient just like a farmer waiting for the harvest. A farmer fights against all sorts of crop diseases or bugs, yet is totally dependent on God for rain and the harvest. Similarly, we wait for our Lord’s return. We fight, endure the hardships or difficulties that life brings, and yet trust in the Lord’s return and eternal reward.

Therefore, James reminds us to take courage, to wait, to be patient; Jesus is certainly coming. In this certainty, we find peace, serenity, and confidence. It is this confidence that makes us to do our daily chores while we wait eagerly like a farmer does for harvest.

May God grant us a heart to wait upon his return patiently yet confidently so that we can engage in our daily work.

Prayer: God, in the fullness of time you brought forth your Son, who will return someday, also in the fullness of time. Help us wait confidently and eagerly and to work heartily with joy.

Yakuv Gurung is pastor of Nepali-Speaking Community Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The 2016 Advent devotions were written by RCA church planters and parent churches.

By Russ Siders

Recently I heard a college professor discuss two technological developments that occurred at roughly the same time in history: the invention of the telescope and the microscope. She noted that the telescope expanded our universe by enlarging our view of the sun, moon, planets, and stars. It made us seem much smaller in comparison to the far reaches of space. At the same time, the microscope opened up another world right under our nose, the world of microbes, cells, and germs. It made us seem much bigger, and more vulnerable at the same time. Both inventions gave human beings a new perspective on our place in the grander scheme of things.

The birth of Jesus has a similar effect on our lives, as Mary shows us through her song of praise. “My soul magnifies the Lord,” she exclaims, “for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.” Then she goes on to say, “From now on all generations will call me blessed; for the Mighty One has done great things for me.” It’s almost as if Mary is saying, “God has become magnified, so much bigger to me than I ever supposed God could be.” Why? “Because God has focused on my minuscule life. The Mighty One has looked upon my tiny existence and has chosen to magnify my significance far beyond its true dimensions.”

This has all come about because of the incarnation, God becoming flesh within Mary through the person of Jesus. The birth of Jesus Christ is both a telescope and a microscope. Through his coming, the greatness of God’s love and the wisdom of God’s plan to save sinners rises in full view and becomes vast and unfathomable. At the same time, Jesus’ arrival means that we are not insignificant specks in space and time. God has been mindful of our humble state, our sin, our need, and God has done something great for us. In Jesus, God not only sees us, but God also acts on our behalf to deliver and lift us up. God fulfills that ancient promise to Abraham, to gather a people as numerous as the stars in the sky, a people who will also “shine like stars” as they reflect to a crooked world what God has done in saving them (Philippians 2:15).

Is your view of God too small? Look through the lens of Jesus, and your soul will magnify the Lord. Do you feel invisible? Look at Jesus, and you will see the great things that the Lord has done for you, is doing in you, and wants to do through you.

Prayer: Be magnified, God. You have looked upon our humble estate and decided to shine through us anyway. Be magnified to those who need to see your bigness, as well as those who need to understand their significance to you.

Russ Siders is pastor of Sunrise Community Church in Tulare, California. The 2016 Advent devotions were written by RCA church planters and parent churches.

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.