Reading
James 5:7
Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
Devotion
This week, we have another painting of John the Baptist. "John the Baptist in the Wilderness" dates from 1490's. Created by a Geertgen tot Sint Jans (c. 1465 – c. 1495), a painter from the northern Low Countries, perhaps what is now the Netherlands, this painting currently resides in the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin.
In this version of John, the fiery prophet is portrayed as introspective, prayerful, perhaps meditative. The wilderness around him is lush not barren. He is seated by a stream, a lamb nearby. Verdant foliage makes up the background. Perhaps someone can identify the plants around him?
Where do you, figuratively, experience the wilderness, dear reader? What are you longing for? What are you waiting for? I think, perhaps, in the wilderness of our lives, we thirst for God’s presence, a sign of God's favor towards us the most. If you are experiencing your own time in the wilderness, try sitting with this painting. We might think we are alone in our thoughts, but in the background, living water is bubbling, the Lamb of God in near, and the fruitfulness of the earth awaits!
Prayer
Gracious God,
In this season of waiting, we remember that Your people have often met You in the wilderness — in places of uncertainty, silence, and longing. As we journey through Advent, we bring our own wilderness moments before You: the unanswered questions, the quiet aches, and the paths we cannot yet see. Like John the Baptist, prepare our hearts to hear Your voice above the noise. Teach us to trust the stillness, to find beauty in the wild places, and to believe that even here, new life is stirring beneath the surface. May Your light guide us through the shadows, Your hope sustain us in the dry places, and Your love lead us to the joy of Christ’s coming. Amen.