Hope and Promise Episode 72
The joy of the Lord is almost among us and we wait in hope and promise! In this episode, we celebrate the coming of Jesus in a new way.
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The hope and promise that Jesus gives us in the here and now – and it happens each and every day. We could not have hope without a cross and resurrection, something my pastor reminded me of the other night when he came for dinner.
He made an interesting comment. He said, there is talk of joy and thanksgiving but people forget the heavy price that came for that joy and thanksgiving to take place. That price was the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ.
That price is also the fact that our Lord became man.
We pay the price each day. In those little and big dramas in our life. In our frustrations. In our inability to cope or to get along with others. In dealing with members of our family or in suffering the loss of loved ones.
That price comes at a heavy cost in our lives as well. Yet, there is hope.
We miss these little gems if we are not careful to see them. As we seek the coming of the Christ Child at Christmas, the death and Resurrection at Easter and the waiting for the second coming of our Lord we can have joyful anticipation. The promise is real.
We sing, “Oh Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” and I love that name! It means, “God with us.” It makes my heart sing because I know that God is already here. He is with me each and every day.
Zephaniah 3:17 NIV — “The Lord your God is with you…”
Zephaniah 3:17 New American Bible states, “The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a mighty savior, Who will rejoice over you with gladness, and renew you in his love, Who will sing joyfully because of you.”
The Lord God is in our midst and a might savior – is among you.
Isaiah 12:6 – “Shout with exultation, City of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel!”
The Lord is near Philippians 4:5)
As Baptized Christians we have already received the Holy Spirit – God is already with us, so we should witness to God’s presence and how can we do this?
- SMILE – that costs you nothing
- Find time to spend with the Lord! If we are filled up with the love of God it will spill out to others.
- Treat others with kindness
- Treat others fairly
- Be content with what we have!
Friends we live in a hurting world and as my pastor says, without the cross we can have no resurrection but I find that so many people are focused on themselves and their situations that it is almost impossible for them to pick up their heads and look at others.
Giving of yourself costs nothing. It costs a smile, a hug, patience at the store or while driving. It is a small cost for what the Lord has done for us.
How can we bring the joy of Christmas to others? By having the Lord in our hearts. That is the absolute best gift you can give anyone, the gift of faith.
Let’s pray.
Dear Lord today we pray for all that you offer in the promise of Christmas – all of the blessings, all of the joy that comes from your love for all of us. I ask that you translate this joy into our hearts, into the hearts of our loved ones and especially for those who struggle at this time of the year. True joy. Everlasting joy. Eternal joy. Only comes from you. As the Lord and Savior, as Emmanuel, God with us you can infuse in our hearts this joy that surpasses all understanding. I ask for an infilling of your most Holy Spirit to overflow in my life. I ask that you hear the prayers and petitions I set before you … I praise you my God and I am humbled and awed that you ask me to be your servant. That you chose me – each one of US that is listening today. You have called us by name and you are here in our midst. Thank you Lord for the greatest gift of all – the gift of faith and salvation. I praise you and ask a blessing on all those listening and all those we pray for … thank-you, my God. I pray this in Jesus, Name. Alleluia, Alleluia.
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