The first week of Advent, we learned of the hope that we have. Much like the Jews of Jesus' time that were still waiting for their Messiah promised them centuries ago. They were told of stories of their ancestors sitting by the river Babylon; exiles in a foreign land and singing, much like we do at Christmas time, about the coming Emmanuel.
But we find, as we move into the second week of Advent that Christmas is so much more than simply hope, although hope is essential.
CHRISTMAS is a virgin bride-to-be accepting the angel's message with joy, courage and honor contrary to all of man's touted logic and 'good sense'.
CHRISTMAS is a young man of high social standing being unwilling to simply put his future bride away although everything about his culture and upbringing tell him otherwise.
CHRISTMAS is shepherds tending their flock by night rushing to see this wondrous event first hand knowing full well that most of 'civilized' society wouldn't welcome them.
CHRISTMAS is wise, learned men watching the heaven's night after night for hundreds of years and, once the sign in the heavens does appear, waste no time making the dangerous journey to a strange land all the while knowing that the King of that land is a paranoid, suspicious, evil madman who would kill anyone
who even SUGGESTS another king supplant him.
No, CHRISTMAS begins to step just beyond simple hope.
CHRISTMAS is a devout man, Simeon, who day by day visited the temple 'awaiting the consolation of Israel'; never giving up on the HOPE the Spirit had given him.
CHRISTMAS is an 84 year old widow/prophetess Anna, who, even into her later years, frequented the temple day and night worshiping and paying homage to her HOPE although her aged body pleaded with her to rest and wait out her last days in comfort.
CHRISTMAS may have started with HOPE, but continued on to be so much more.
All of Israel know the Messiah to come.
They had all read or heard the Prophets.
But only a few people were actually there
to see the realization of their HOPE becoming reality.
The STAR in the sky was there for all to see, but only a small group of foreign astronomers dared to seek out its meaning.
What we see from these people began with HOPE, but it blossomed into something great!
HEBREWS 11:1
"Now, FAITH is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen."
What these people in the Christmas story did began with HOPE, but it moved forward to FAITH!
Without the FAITH to move on your HOPE, your HOPE means nothing. In fact, all of the words associated with ADVENT are action words and do things.
1 THESSALONIANS 1:3
"Remembering without ceasing your WORK OF FAITH, LABOR OF LOVE, and PATIENCE OF HOPE in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father"
more to come
But we find, as we move into the second week of Advent that Christmas is so much more than simply hope, although hope is essential.
CHRISTMAS is a virgin bride-to-be accepting the angel's message with joy, courage and honor contrary to all of man's touted logic and 'good sense'.
CHRISTMAS is a young man of high social standing being unwilling to simply put his future bride away although everything about his culture and upbringing tell him otherwise.
CHRISTMAS is shepherds tending their flock by night rushing to see this wondrous event first hand knowing full well that most of 'civilized' society wouldn't welcome them.
CHRISTMAS is wise, learned men watching the heaven's night after night for hundreds of years and, once the sign in the heavens does appear, waste no time making the dangerous journey to a strange land all the while knowing that the King of that land is a paranoid, suspicious, evil madman who would kill anyone
who even SUGGESTS another king supplant him.
No, CHRISTMAS begins to step just beyond simple hope.
CHRISTMAS is a devout man, Simeon, who day by day visited the temple 'awaiting the consolation of Israel'; never giving up on the HOPE the Spirit had given him.
CHRISTMAS is an 84 year old widow/prophetess Anna, who, even into her later years, frequented the temple day and night worshiping and paying homage to her HOPE although her aged body pleaded with her to rest and wait out her last days in comfort.
CHRISTMAS may have started with HOPE, but continued on to be so much more.
All of Israel know the Messiah to come.
They had all read or heard the Prophets.
But only a few people were actually there
to see the realization of their HOPE becoming reality.
The STAR in the sky was there for all to see, but only a small group of foreign astronomers dared to seek out its meaning.
What we see from these people began with HOPE, but it blossomed into something great!
HEBREWS 11:1
"Now, FAITH is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen."
What these people in the Christmas story did began with HOPE, but it moved forward to FAITH!
Without the FAITH to move on your HOPE, your HOPE means nothing. In fact, all of the words associated with ADVENT are action words and do things.
1 THESSALONIANS 1:3
"Remembering without ceasing your WORK OF FAITH, LABOR OF LOVE, and PATIENCE OF HOPE in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father"
more to come