Posts Tagged ‘ Faith ’
A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.“
Isaiah 40:3, ESV
God has given us peace through Christ by revealing His love through the cross, and it was proof of the prophecies from hundreds of years earlier, even of John the Baptist, showing God’s faithfulness. Our peace comes in knowing His sovereignty and omniscience.
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25-26, ESV
The hope of Christ is that the long-awaited Messiah has come, and He brings eternal life. We must believe this and love out that faith.
Do you believe?
I enjoy the Christmas season. I enjoy celebrating Advent.
The first week of Advent is traditionally seen as being a time for looking at hope and faith, having an expectation of the coming Savior. This year, I am using some of the readings from the Revised Common Lectionary.
Let’s get into
“Look, the days are coming”—
Jeremiah 33:14-16, CSB
this is the Lord’s declaration—
“when I will fulfill the good promise
that I have spoken
concerning the house of Israel
and the house of Judah.
In those days and at that time
I will cause a Righteous Branch
to sprout up for David,
and he will administer justice
and righteousness in the land.
In those days Judah will be saved,
and Jerusalem will dwell securely,
and this is what she will be named:
The Lord Is Our Righteousness.
The world was full of sin, separation, and violence. Israel and Judah were God’s chosen people to spread His glory, but they had essentially failed at being faithful. Israel was already taken into exile, and Jeremiah was living during the time of Judah going into exile.
Jeremiah reminded us that God had established His covenant with King David, that an eternal Kingdom was coming with a descendant of David ruling forever. When this King comes, salvation and peace shall come. The next two verses even include that there will also be an eternal Priest.
This Priestly King will be called “The Lord is our righteousness.” As 1 Corinthians 1:30 reminds us, Christ is our righteousness and redemption, the Lord who sanctifies us.
We now know who this Priestly King is, and we must submit ourselves to His rule. And our hope is for eternity, knowing that Christ will come again. As said in Luke 21:25-36, this world will pass away, but He and His word will last forever, so we must prepare ourselves for His next coming.
The Hope of mankind has come and is coming, so let us repent of our sins, changing the way we think and act, worshiping the Son of God, the second Person of the Holy Trinity of the Godhead, that we may be ready when He returns. We have hope only if we are found in Christ.
Believe in the coming Son.
Lord, we have sinned against You and You alone. You are our only hope. Grant us the grace to repent, the strength to follow You, and the will to love others through the gospel and serving each other until You return. Show us the hope we have in Your life, death, and resurrection, and by the power of the Holy Spirit guide us in all truth until You return.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14, ESV
Just the name of God is enough to save us, and at His word we are saved. Trust in the Word made flesh, this Jesus who came to save us, giving thanks for His grace and truth.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
Proverbs 18:10, ESV
Just the name of God is enough to guard and save us. Call on God to redeem and comfort your soul, and trust Him with every part of your day and life, thanking Him for His grace and strength.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:5, ESV
Trust God. He loves you, so show your love for Him by obeying Him with your emotions, your thoughts, and your actions, even when it’s difficult or counter-cultural.
“Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
Ephesians 6:2-3, ESV
Trust God. He is our heavenly Father, and He calls us to love and honor our own parents. Trust His promise to bless us if we forgive and love parents.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
Isaiah 9:2, ESV
Trust God. This world is a dark, confusing place, but He came to us in the Person of Jesus to shine His light, give us hope, and send us out in the power of the Holy Spirit to shine His light for others.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Matthew 5:9, ESV
Trust God. Even when the world is crazy, He moves through us to bring His peace and salvation.
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”
Deuteronomy 31:8, ESV
Trust God. Being omnipresent and omnipotent, He is always with us and caring for us.
a simple man of God 