ADVENT: The End of Normalcy
In the upcoming year, what makes you most hopeful?
“And the Word became flesh,
(John 1: 14 NASB)
and dwelt among us;
and we saw His glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.”
During the holiday season, I found myself seated at a variety of tables: some oval, some round, some square.
In reflecting upon where I traveled last December, I recalled whose table I sat around in the days after Christmas last year. In remembering, I reflected upon our conversation we shared that early morning as we sat at each end of his kitchen table.
This Christmas season, as I prepared my own table for others to join me for a meal, I also found myself wondering if we needed to add the table leaf or if we needed to run to the basement to gather more chairs.
Then yesterday, (at the end of a beautiful church service, where the pastor simply shared the plan of salvation Jesus brought to earth with His birth as a babe and with His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead) a fellow believer and I stood talking about the banquet-table believers will share—GOD’S TABLE—when we arrive home in heaven, a table where there will be plenty of room for ALL WHO BELIEVE & ACCEPT JESUS.
What makes you most hopeful in the upcoming year?
If we turn to the end of the Word of God, we see how all believers, how all who confess Jesus as Lord, & how all who accept the offer of Jesus to receive God’s free gift of salvation—will end up around the throne of God—eternally!
Think about that.
See that blessed image within your mind!
See the massive crowd of people in our minds!
See ourselves standing there among the nations!
Hear the chants, the praises lifted, and the songs we will sing to King Jesus!
Consider how believers will remain at the LORD’S banquet table (one with just enough seats for every-single-person who chooses to believe and accept Jesus)!
Dwell there!
Think on this during these days post-Christmas!
Look around at the faces of those who have passed away, who are already seated there!
Look around & think about the faces of those who still live, who are not prepared for death!
What makes you most hopeful as the upcoming year approaches?
“The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace [Shalom—the way things ought to be; peace only found in Jesus Christ who made peace through the cross].
(Isaiah 26: 3-4 NASB)
Because he trusts in You.
Trust in the LORD forever,
For in GOD the LORD, we have an everlasting Rock.”
Yes, what (about the upcoming year) makes you most hopeful?
- We are encouraged and we are equipped.
- We are to Trust GOD!
When we are alone and when we are encompassed in community with all believers, all Christians, we are the people of GOD, so we ought to Trust GOD always & in all things!
WHO brings you most hope?
“And He will delight in the fear of the LORD,
(Isaiah 11: 3-5 & 10 NASB)
And He will not judge by what His eyes see,
Nor make decisions by what His ears hear;
But with righteousness He will judge the poor,
And decide with fairness for the humble of the earth;
And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth,
And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked.
Also righteousness will be the belt around His hips,
And faithfulness the belt around His waist. . . .
Then on that day
The nations will resort to the root of Jesse,
Who will stand as a signal flag for the peoples;
And His resting place will be glorious.”
- Who do we know who is not a believer?
- Who do we know that needs a personal relationship with Jesus?
- What can we say today that will help share Jesus with them during this new year?
- How can we use what Jesus did for us to share with those who do not believe?
- Why is it so difficult for some to believe the words spoken by Jesus: “You must be born again.”
- Why do some remain confused by the simplicity of these words?
- Why do some struggle with the TRUTH: “be born again”?
WHO (within the upcoming year) fills you most with hope?
What can we say?
What can we do to enlighten those who we know and pray for—who have not yet tasted the LORD’S Salvation?
When someone says: “I want to believe, to have faith as you,”—
- What is it about God’s Salvation that is so appealing?
- What makes accepting this gift so difficult?
Do you know from WHOM your hope comes?
Most assuredly, there are only two households of faith:
Those who believe and accept the salvation Jesus offers.
Those who do not believe, who do not accept the salvation of Jesus.
- Today, may be the day after Christmas, the day after we joyfully celebrate the birth of the Jesus, the Savior and Messiah.
- Today may also be the first day of belief, the day we joyfully celebrate someone’s new birth in Christ.
- Yes, today just might be the day we sing praises to the King of kings for His Salvation of another one’s soul.
- Maybe today, another person will come to know Jesus and will become seated at the LORD’S banquet table.
ADVENT—Truly it is the End of Normalcy.
ADVENT—Truly God Came in the Person of Jesus to Dwell Among Us.
THE SECOND COMING—Truly Jesus Is Coming Again to Earth.
- May we boldly share Jesus with the world.
- May we boldly speak Jesus with the world surrounding us.
- May we boldly love like Jesus to the world of people we are privileged to encounter.
- May we boldly pray for those who we know need to encounter Jesus.
- May we boldly “go and tell” the world about this man—Jesus.
- May we be bold in our walk of faith.
- May We—the church, the children of God—Be Bold As We Step Into Today.
- May We—the church, the children of God—Be Bold As We Step Into This New Year.
Truly, in WHOM are you most hopeful in the upcoming year?
Truly, what action will you take in the upcoming year to share in WHOM you have hope?
“And the Word became flesh,
(John 1: 14 NASB)
and dwelt among us;
and we saw His glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.”