“For a Child will be born to us”
Lately, every time I type a certain word into my WhatsApp messages, I am convicted of my use of this word. Maybe some think, “How can a person’s usage of a word bring conviction to his heart,” but it does and it can.
For instance, oftentimes, we see articles about our use of the word—LOVE.
We love watching the World Cup.
We love hanging with our friends.
We love our family.
We love that movie or this book, or even our favorite color.
Then, there is the opposite word and our use of the word—HATE.
In fact, last evening at dinner, one of my sisters said, “I am trying not to use the word ‘hate’ so much,” to which I replied, “I have tried to say, “I love this or that—less—rather than saying I ‘hate’ this or that, but it’s so difficult to stop using a word ingrained into our mind.
During this season of Advent, we are called to look at the first coming of Jesus to the earth and to look expectantly for the second coming of Jesus to the earth. Embedded within this holy season is the word of focus today, the one I am convicted of as I type onto my phone screen.
HOPE!
I hope you can get some rest.
I hope you know I love you.
I hope you can come home for a visit.
I hope it doesn’t rain, snow, sleet, or storm.
I hope. . .
On and On and On and On—We hope for that which we can never control.
As Advent begins today, may we consider what this word—HOPE—really means & may we settle this decision—Our HOPE our eternal LIFE—once and for all.
- May we see how our HOPE is not found in a situation, or within a feeling, or within anything humanity can ever produce.
- May we fully understand how our HOPE is found in JESUS!
The prophet Isaiah was sent by God to proclaim the Good News, to tell the world of ‘this Child’ who was to be born, to help the people prepare to receive ‘this Child’ & to lead the people to open their hearts to receive the Truth found in ‘this Child’ who was coming to earth.
Whenever we are soon to have someone come, we find ourselves preparing our homes, tidying up our space, and making sure everything is ready to receive this guest into our personal lives. That’s exactly what the prophet was instructing the people to do.
“The people who walk in darkness
(Isaiah 9: 2-7 NASB)
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.
You will multiple the nation,
You will increase their joy;
They will rejoice in Your presence
As with the joy of harvest,
As people rejoice when they divide the spoils.
For You will break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders.
The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian.
For every boot of the marching warrior in the roar of battle,
And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.
For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace
On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
From then on and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of armies will accomplish this.”
HOPE—a longing, a desire, a trust, a looking for, a holding within us for what is to come.
HOPE!
Our Savior Jesus.
Our Redeemer.
Our Prince of Peace.
Our King of Kings.
Our Assurance.
Our Lord of Lords.
Our Fulfillment of Prophecy.
Our Father, Son, & Holy Spirit.
Our Salvation.
Our Proven HOPE!
The Good News of HOPE is powerful.
The Gospel message of HOPE is life-giving.
The Word of God speaks HOPE, the power to save the lost.
The Bible brings mankind to his knees as his eyes are opened, as he sees what he could not see on his own.
“For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us;”
May we who know Jesus as Savior never be ashamed of the Good News of HOPE!
May we who have been saved by the Redeemer never be tight-lipped about from WHOM our HOPE Comes!
May we who have received the assurance of God’s Salvation proclaim as the prophet Isaiah to a world, to:
“The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light [of the world—JESUS] will shine on them.”
- May we never turn a blind eye to the lost world surrounding us!
- May we never hide where our HOPE is found!
- May we NEVER!
- May we Proclaim our HOPE!
- May we Talk, Text, Post, Tweet, & E-Mail to share with the world our—HOPE—JESUS!
“And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
(Luke 1: 30-35 NASB)
And behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David;
and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
But Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”
The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason the holy Child will be called the Son of God.”
During this season of Advent, we are called to look at the first coming of Jesus to the earth, the coming of the Messiah born to the virgin.
We see how the prophecy Isaiah proclaimed to the world—came TRUE!
We see how the angel of the Lord spoke to the mother of the holy Child.
We read God’s Word
&
We are reminded on this first Sunday of Advent how HOPE REIGNS!
&
We look expectantly for Jesus’ second coming to the earth, the Truth Jesus spoke of after His crucifixion, after His resurrection, and before His ascension back to heaven!
Embedded within this holy season is the word—
HOPE!
Our HOPE & our eternal LIFE—once and for all.
- May we tell the world how our HOPE is not placed in something whimsical, unseen, or false.
- May we proclaim to those around us, “Our HOPE is not found in situations or feelings.”
- Our HOPE is in the person, in JESUS!