The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
Zephaniah 3:17 (esv)
It can be easy to feel insignificant and far from God – especially when wallowing in the shame of our sins.
But the whole reason Jesus came was to free us from those sins, release us from that shame and guilt, and draw us to Himself!
Instead of being far from God, through Jesus, He draws us to Himself – and even rejoices over us with gladness!
And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.
Revelation 21:22-23 (esv)
Sometimes it’s helpful to start from the end – especially when we’re going through heartache and struggle.
In Revelation we are given a beautiful glimpse of Heaven; with God taking center stage.
How wonderful it will be!
Jesus came to redeem us and now prepares a beautiful place for us for eternity with Him!
With that to look forward to, all of the temporary issues we are dealing with here are trivial!
When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be alarmed! These things must happen, but they don’t mean that the end has come.
Mark 13:7 (gW)
It’s easy to freak out when watching the news. Everything seems to go from bad to worse.
But Jesus warned us about this, not so that we’d be afraid or upset, but to comfort us and remind us that when these things happed, we can, “straighten up and raise [our] heads, because [our] redemption is drawing near!” [Luke 21:28] And that is great news!
We are at the manger of the Promised Savior tonight!
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
We complete our Advent journey to the manger today.
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
John 14:27
“Peace” seems pretty fleeting in our current world, country, and culture. Yet that’s what we’re called to! We are to be the ambassadors of God’s peace in our families, our communities, and our culture. That doesn’t mean there will be no hostilities around us, but that in and through them, we are sharing the One who brings peace amidst and through the chaos. We share the coming Jesus as the One through whom chaos and hostilities have been conquered. We share Jesus, Who blesses the world with hope through the peace only He can – and has – given! Bring it, Lord!
We continue our Advent journey to the manger today.
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
John 8:58
Our lives are temporary. By extension, so are all our hardships and troubles. Every difficulty we are going through will end! We often forget that. We also forget that, through Jesus, we have an eternity to look forward to where there will be no crying or hardships or pain. Those will have passed away forever! When we backup and look at our current challenges through that lens, it is a lot easier to endure them and see them for what they are – a very small, very temporary setback that will be forgotten!
We continue our Advent journey to the manger today.
You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.
Psalm 89:26
One of the many things this pandemic has taught us is just how powerless we are! We seem to be dragged into situations and predicaments we feel helpless to change. Working and schooling from home, or mandates of what will or will not be open (and the loss of livelihood that may follow!), and other things can make us feel, well, weak. But we have a God who is mighty and nothing that is or can happen is too big for Him! His is over all of this and, because He loves and cares for us, we know that His power is exercised in a way that will work out for our good! That’s His mighty promise – and He always keeps His Word! The Incarnation is proof of that! So rise up, mighty child of God! Your Savior has come!
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned.
Isaiah 40:1-2b
Jesus’ incarnation means that we have a God Who not only knows what we’re going through because He made us and knows everything, but also because He became like us in the flesh! So when we are down or going through a difficult time, we can go to Him and know He not only knows what we’re going through, but can empathize with us and do something about it! And His counsel is always best, right, loving, and caring! What an awesome God we have with us in Jesus!
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
This passage from the prophet Isaiah tells us that God is going to send Someone who would rule, save, and be everything we need.
This, of course, was fulfilled in the Person of Jesus – God’s Son.
As we prepare for His coming during this Advent season, we are going to take a look at four specific ways that Jesus would fulfill this: as a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace!
These are wonderful descriptions of both who Jesus is and what He came to do!
Below highlights more specifics of the weekly themes and what we will cover.
I hope you’ll join us as we prepare for this Savior, Jesus, who came to and and for us!
God bless your preparation!
WONDERFUL COUNSELOR: God With Us When We’re Down
November 29
Jesus’ incarnation means that we have a God Who not only knows what we’re going through because He made us and knows everything, but also because He became like us in the flesh! So when we are down or going through a difficult time, we can go to Him and know He not only knows what we’re going through, but can empathize with us and do something about it! And His counsel is always best, right, loving, and caring! What an awesome God we have with us in Jesus!
Isaiah 40:1-11
Romans 8:26-27
Hebrews 4:15-16
MIGHTY GOD: God With Us in Our Weakness
December 6
One of the many things this pandemic has taught us is just how powerless we are! We seem to be dragged into situations and predicaments we feel helpless to change. Working and schooling from home, or mandates of what will or will not be open (and the loss of livelihood that may follow!), and other things can make us feel, well, weak. But we have a God who is mighty and nothing that is or can happen is too big for Him! His is over all of this and, because He loves and cares for us, we know that His power is exercised in a way that will work out for our good! That’s His mighty promise – and He always keeps His Word! The Incarnation is proof of that! So rise up, mighty child of God! Your Savior has come!
Psalm 89:1-29
Jeremiah 23:5-8
EVERLASTING FATHER: God With Us Beyond Temporary Hardships
December 13
Our lives are temporary. By extension, so are all our hardships and troubles. Every difficulty we are going through will end! We often forget that. We also forget that, through Jesus, we have an eternity to look forward to where there will be no crying or hardships or pain. Those will have passed away forever! When we backup and look at our current challenges through that lens, it is a lot easier to endure them and see them for what they are – a very small, very temporary setback that will be forgotten!
John 8:58
Romans 8:18
Revelation 21:1-6
PRINCE OF PEACE: God With Us Through the Chaos
December 20
“Peace” seems pretty fleeting in our current world, country, and culture. Yet that’s what we’re called to! We are to be the ambassadors of God’s peace in our families, our communities, and our culture. That doesn’t mean there will be no hostilities around us, but that in and through them, we are sharing the One who brings peace amidst and through the chaos. We share the coming Jesus as the One through whom chaos and hostilities have been conquered. We share Jesus, Who blesses the world with hope through the peace only He can – and has – given! Bring it, Lord!
John 14:27
Matthew 5:9
A CHILD IS BORN! A SON IS GIVEN! To Us & For Us: The Savior Jesus
