Hope & Preparation
(In preparation for today you may like to take out some candles to light during this devotional. This will be a meditative and reflective devotional with some readings and questions throughout.)
Good morning KICL!
Last Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent, the season when we as Christians are awaiting the birth of Christ. Advent means arrival. It is good to take the time to really meditate upon the fact that over 2000 years ago God came to earth from heaven in the form of a human being, his own son, Jesus Christ, Emmanuel - God With Us. Think about it: God became a man! He did it because He loves us—and that’s what we should celebrate as Christmas approaches. Take time between now and Christmas to reflect on this great truth.
If we had been together as a congregation we would have lit the first purple candle last Sunday, which signifies leading our hearts to Hope. The purple colour of the candle represents royalty, repentance, and fasting. The first week of Advent is for reflecting on what it must have been like to feel the depth of Father God’s silence during the period between the Old Testament and New. We ponder the prophecies about the promised Messiah. We aim to begin this season with a mindset that creates hope in our hearts.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Read Isaiah 9:6
In this Scripture we find the message and meaning of Christmas. Isaiah the prophet gave five awe-inspiring names of our Lord that encourage us, excite us and fill us with hope at this Christmas season.
1. Wonderful. When He did His many miracles, the Scripture says, “The people wondered.” (Luke 11:14)
2. Counselor. The officers said, “No one ever spoke like this man!” (John 7:46)
3. Mighty God. He is the God-Man. He said that He and the Father are one. (John 10:30)
4. Everlasting Father. It was by Him, the living Word, that all things were created. He is the designer of the whole universe. (John 1:3; Hebrews 11:3)
5. Prince of Peace. There will never be lasting peace on earth until He comes again to reign in righteousness. But He is also the Prince of Peace in other ways. None can have peace with God apart from Him and the peace that He made through the blood of His cross. (Colossians 1:20)
The full meaning of these words from Isaiah should give us enough strength, hope, and joy to face any crisis, endure any sorrow and meet any temptation.
Q: How has Jesus shown you recently that He is “Wonderful, Counselor … the Prince of Peace”? Do you need God’s love in your life?
TODAY, the Second Sunday of Advent, we light the Hope candle and then a second purple candle signifying Preparation. First, hope blooms as we realise the prophecies about the Messiah are true. Then we begin to prepare our hearts to receive the Lord Jesus. Imagine how Joseph must have rushed to prepare the crude stable for Mary and the soon-to-be-born Jesus. Often we may rush in this season also, preparing gifts, food, and plans, or we travel to see our relatives and friends. However, this rushing or busy-ness is likely going to feature somewhat less due to our restrictions and precautions from Covid-19. So this year in 2020, this can help us to slow down and reflect on Joseph and Mary’s preparation for the birth in a new way, let us pause and read the words of Isaiah:
A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
(Isaiah 40:3-5)
Q: As you prepare for Christmas, are you seeking to follow God’s call in your life?
May we focus on how we can follow the lead of Mary and Joseph in responding to God.
Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
Read Matthew 1:19-21
We’re given just a little glimpse of Mary and Joseph before Jesus was born. They lived in the hill country of Galilee. Joseph was a religious man. Mary gives every evidence of having a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures, even though she was a teenager. The Bible teaches that God was so pleased with her that He chose her to be the mother of Jesus. Mary and Joseph weren’t married, and yet Mary became pregnant.
If you are a husband you could try and put yourself in Joseph’s place—imagine his thoughts, his aspirations about the girl to whom he was engaged. Yet Joseph decided to break the engagement privately. While he was thinking about these things, God’s angel appeared to him in a dream to give Joseph an explanation of the situation. All Joseph’s suspicions were put away. He accepted what God had said through the angel, and he was immediately married to Mary.
Both Joseph and Mary followed the call and plan of God, and through their obedience the way was prepared for Christ to come and bless us.
Q: Are you seeking to follow God’s call on your life? Are you actively responding to Him?
A Prayer for Preparation
Holy God, we praise you for the hope you give us. As we move into the second week of Advent, we prepare our hearts to receive you. Just as Mary and Joseph journeyed to Bethlehem over rough terrain, so our lives lead us down rocky paths at times. Yet we know that you are our Counselor, you are Mighty, you are Holy, and you are Peace, so we ask in the name of Jesus that you make yourself manifest amongst us. Bring your presence and prepare our hearts to be a dwelling place for you.
Have a good week friends,
Beth
(I would like to give some credit to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for inspiration from their Advent notes).
