For our final week of advent, we focus on receiving and sharing the love of Christ.

Today's advent devotion was written by Bill Mayall:

29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”  Mark 12:29-31

We once attended Sunday School in a small Methodist church in Maine. Only a handful of people attended that class. One Sunday the discussion leader asked, “If you were put on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” Then, as now, that question made me think long and hard. Hmmm, would there actually be compelling evidence to affirm my Christianity? How would I handle such a situation? Would I stand tall and steadfast? Or, I wondered, perhaps I would be more like Apostle Peter and deny Christ to avoid persecution and trouble.

James 1, 22-25, tells us deeds, not words matter. In today’s Advent reading, Jesus clearly articulated the great Commandment. Would my deeds actually serve as “evidence” to exonerate or convict me? As I reflect on my “deeds” in support of my faith, I pray that I would have the strength to stand firm and aver...”Guilty as charged.”