Forward Movement is an official, non-profit agency of the Episcopal Church whose mission is to create compelling content for Christian living. Since 1935 we have published the quarterly devotional Forward Day by Day, as well as pamphlets, booklets, and books that encourage and nourish people in their lives of prayer and faith.
MONDAY, November 21
Joel 3:1-2, 9-17. Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision.
The short Book of Joel falls into two parts, the first describing a devastating plague of locusts and the second envisioning the coming “day of the Lord” when all nations will be held to account. How the two parts relate to each other is unclear. Perhaps the natural disaster of the plague suggested to Joel the expected judgment of the Lord upon the peoples of the earth. Today’s reading comes from that second part of the book and contains both terrifying images (“the sun and the moon are darkened”) and lovely ones (“the mountains shall drip sweet wine”).
As in other apocalyptic literature, these are symbolic images, not literal pictures of future events. They point to the importance of knowing when a decision must be made and having the wisdom and courage to make the right one. And it isn’t merely the leaders of the nations who decide, but “multitudes, multitudes” stand even now in the valley of decision. These multitudes include you and me. What are the life-or-death decisions we face? Do we have the wisdom to see where God is and the courage to decide for God?
PRAY for the Dioceses of Waiapu and Waikato (New Zealand)Ps 106:1-18 * 106:19-48; 1 Peter 1:1-12; Matthew 19:1-12
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Advent (from the Latin word adventus meaning "coming") is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. For Christians, the season of Advent serves as a reminder both of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of their Messiah as well as the waiting of Christians for Christ's return. The theme of readings and teachings during Advent is often to prepare for the Second Coming while commemorating the First Coming of Christ at Christmas.