Advent 2009: Hope
In light of our current situations; the wars between nations, the instability of our economy, the brokenness of our relationships, the continued battle with the sinfulness of our hearts, our failure to live according to God’s perfect standards; we are all longing for something to bring us peace and relief. Our only hope is for someone to save us, someone to rescue us! Out of God’s great mercy and love for us, Jesus, His Son, was sent to earth. Born of the virgin Mary, he shared our genes, our instincts, entered our world, spoke our language, had friends and conversations, worked as a carpenter, laughed and cried. But he did something that we could never do. He completely fulfilled the law of God by living a perfect life free of sin. Through the life of Jesus, we can have the hope and assurance of eternal life. Jesus Christ is the only true hope for a fallen world. Jesus Christ is the only true hope for our desperate souls.
Advent 2009: Chaos
Long ago the prophets of God predicted the coming of Jesus, the Messiah, the blessed Savior. The people who heard these prophecies had many different reactions and interpretations. There was a general excitement about a coming king that would free the people of Israel from oppression. However, there was chaos and confusion about how this king would come and how he would free them! Today, we see this chaos in our own lives. We don’t understand why things happen the way they do or why things don’t turn out as we hoped. We look for peace in the things around us, in our possessions, in our relationships, and end up more much more confused. Than as we approach Jesus and His Gospel, we see this chaos even more as we see the sin and struggles in our own hearts. In the midst of such chaos, we must cling to the scriptural truth that Jesus is the king of peace.
Advent 2009: Longing
Since the beginning of the world, when Adam and Eve were banished from the Garden of Eden, there has been a yearning for deliverance from the corruption of this world and the darkness in our hearts. We see this expressed all throughout history as evil has caused destruction, and the oppressed have cried out for help and relief. It is this cry coming from humanity and creation that we all have: the cry of those who have experienced the tyranny of injustice in a world under this curse of sin, and yet it is the cry of those who have a longing for deliverance, a burning desire for peace and unity, a hope of a deliverer and savior.