IWU Looks Toward Christmas: Advent 2011
Posted by Indiana Wesleyan University on Tue, Nov 08, 2011
Indiana Wesleyan University's 2011 Advent devotional, Called to Be Courageous, is now available in PDF format.
The title of the post reflects IWU's Verse of the Year for 2011-2012's school year: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31:6)
In the introduction, IWU's Dean of the Chapel Jim Lo ponders this verse:
Moses, speaking to all Israel, admonished them to “be strong and courageous.” The Israelites were still wandering in the wilderness. What they needed was courage to keep moving forward with God, one step at a time until they reached the destination God had marked out for them. There would be no applause for them, no oohs and aahs. No recognition given in newspapers or magazines for what they were doing. Without the promise of publicity and fanfare, the Israelites were to courageously walk in obedience to God’s command.
Someone once told me, “It takes more courage to walk in obedience when there is no human recognition given, than to walk in obedience when there are a lot of people to cheer one on.” Step by step we who profess faith in Christ are called to courageously walk the path of obedience.
The following Advent devotions focus on the theme of having courage in God. My prayer is that as you read them you will be encouraged.
Advent starts this coming Sunday. The devotional is also available in podcast form on iTunes. We'll be posting clips from the Devotional each day througout the Advent season.