The second week of Advent focuses on peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace who has given those who follow Him peace ("Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.", John 14:27, NASB). It is that peace that we enjoy in a world that is full of trouble and tumult. It is that peace which helps us stand firm as we await Jesus' second Advent.
"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)
Here is a promise that should help us to be at peace. Walking with Christ isn't often easy. We struggle not only with the temptations with which the world surrounds us; we also struggle with our own sin nature and the weaknesses that come along with being a fallen human being. And yet in spite of those things we know that Jesus is faithful and has promised to carry the good work He began in us to completion. We might struggle a good deal between now and when Jesus comes again, but we can be certain that those struggles will not prevent us from dwelling with God forever because it is not our efforts which will guarantee our success, but the work of Jesus on the cross and His role of advocate before the throne of God ("My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.…" 1 John 2:1-2).
"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” (Luke 1:76-79)
The Holy Spirit revealed to Zechariah that his son, John the Baptist, had been sent to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death in order to guide their feet into the path of peace. John would do that by guiding those who belong to God to Jesus, God's Son, their Savior. When John preached and the people responded, they found peace with God as they were reconciled to Him through His Son. So, too, when we preach do people find peace with God as they are reconciled to Him through His Son, Jesus. That is why we preach; so that as Jesus' disciples we will ourselves make disciples, and thus bear much fruit.
"He [John the Baptist] went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (Luke 3:3)
The first thing John the Baptist called God's people to was repentance. If they were to be ready for the arrival of the Messiah, they would need to prepare themselves by turning away from their sin and toward God. They could not cleanse themselves; only God could do that. But they could submit to the Lord and allow Him to make them ready. That is what John called them to do so that they could have peace with God.
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all people will see God’s salvation.’”
(Luke 3:4-6)
Before a king would visit some area of his realm, runners would be sent out to announce his coming and those who lived there would make the way or road he would use ready for his arrival. Isaiah and John the Baptist weren't using this image in a literal sense. No one expects us to pave our driveway in preparation for the Lord's return. But we can make His way straight by allowing Him to help us keep our lives "straight." We can address what is crooked within us and ask God to smooth what is rough. That can be a painful process, but it is necessary if we are to be at peace with the idea that Jesus will one day return, certain that through His grace we will find salvation.
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years." (Malachi 3:1-4)
In the end there is nothing we can do to get ourselves ready (that is, in the sense that we can purify ourselves or make ourselves righteous). It is the Lord who will do that. The Israelites tried to do that themselves and they failed. God's people still try to do that and they fail. It is Jesus, working through the power of the Holy Spirit, who changes us; who prepares us for His return through His grace so that we might have peace with God.
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David." (Luke 1:68-69)
Good Sabbath, and praise be to the Lord our God, because He has come to His people and saved them! See you in church!
The second week of Advent focuses on peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace who has given those who follow Him peace ("Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.", John 14:27, NASB). It is that peace that we enjoy in a world that is full of trouble and tumult. It is that peace which helps us stand firm as we await Jesus' second Advent.
ReplyDelete"...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6)
ReplyDeleteHere is a promise that should help us to be at peace. Walking with Christ isn't often easy. We struggle not only with the temptations with which the world surrounds us; we also struggle with our own sin nature and the weaknesses that come along with being a fallen human being. And yet in spite of those things we know that Jesus is faithful and has promised to carry the good work He began in us to completion. We might struggle a good deal between now and when Jesus comes again, but we can be certain that those struggles will not prevent us from dwelling with God forever because it is not our efforts which will guarantee our success, but the work of Jesus on the cross and His role of advocate before the throne of God ("My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.…" 1 John 2:1-2).
"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High;
ReplyDeletefor you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins,
because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
(Luke 1:76-79)
The Holy Spirit revealed to Zechariah that his son, John the Baptist, had been sent to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death in order to guide their feet into the path of peace. John would do that by guiding those who belong to God to Jesus, God's Son, their Savior. When John preached and the people responded, they found peace with God as they were reconciled to Him through His Son. So, too, when we preach do people find peace with God as they are reconciled to Him through His Son, Jesus. That is why we preach; so that as Jesus' disciples we will ourselves make disciples, and thus bear much fruit.
"He [John the Baptist] went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins." (Luke 3:3)
ReplyDeleteThe first thing John the Baptist called God's people to was repentance. If they were to be ready for the arrival of the Messiah, they would need to prepare themselves by turning away from their sin and toward God. They could not cleanse themselves; only God could do that. But they could submit to the Lord and allow Him to make them ready. That is what John called them to do so that they could have peace with God.
As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
ReplyDelete“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’”
(Luke 3:4-6)
Before a king would visit some area of his realm, runners would be sent out to announce his coming and those who lived there would make the way or road he would use ready for his arrival. Isaiah and John the Baptist weren't using this image in a literal sense. No one expects us to pave our driveway in preparation for the Lord's return. But we can make His way straight by allowing Him to help us keep our lives "straight." We can address what is crooked within us and ask God to smooth what is rough. That can be a painful process, but it is necessary if we are to be at peace with the idea that Jesus will one day return, certain that through His grace we will find salvation.
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the Lord Almighty.
ReplyDeleteBut who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the Lord will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the Lord, as in days gone by, as in former years." (Malachi 3:1-4)
In the end there is nothing we can do to get ourselves ready (that is, in the sense that we can purify ourselves or make ourselves righteous). It is the Lord who will do that. The Israelites tried to do that themselves and they failed. God's people still try to do that and they fail. It is Jesus, working through the power of the Holy Spirit, who changes us; who prepares us for His return through His grace so that we might have peace with God.
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
ReplyDeletebecause he has come to his people and redeemed them.
He has raised up a horn of salvation for us
in the house of his servant David." (Luke 1:68-69)
Good Sabbath, and praise be to the Lord our God, because He has come to His people and saved them! See you in church!