We celebrate Christmas by reflecting on God's word which points us to Jesus Christ, our Savior and the true substance of our faith who fulfills hope, peace, joy, and love!
The gospel is a message of God’s love for his creation. Because it is out of His great love for His creation that He had a plan of redemption and restoration. The apostle John shows us how God displayed his love through His Son Jesus Christ and the impact it has on us.
Advent is a season of joy, and most people look forward to the season. For we all want to experience joy as we long and chase after joy. Yet is seems that joy is always fleeting. When we think about joy, we tend to think of an emotion that we feel that is based on a favorable circumstance. Biblical joy is different. Biblical joy is more than a feeling or attitude that varies based on our circumstances. Biblical joy is rooted in God’s promises, it is a confident cheer in God’s presence, it can be found only in Christ.
The longing for peace can be found inside all of us. The world was the epitome of peace, until sin entered to world and broke the peace between God and humanity. The lack of peace between God and us would create a lack of peace among us. The question that humanity has been asking and attempting to answer: How do we restore this peace? Because genuine peace cannot be accomplished if there is no peace between us and God, we need someone who can accomplish this peace, by satisfying God’s wrath and restoring our relationship with God.
The nation of Israel is facing difficult and trying times as the 12 tribes have split into two Kingdoms moving further away from God. Making matters worse, neighboring Assyria grows stronger threatening to take over, and Israel’s leaders turn to other nations for help instead of relying on God. Despite the repeated failures of Kings past though, the prophet Isaiah delivers a message of hope to Israel showing them how one day the Lord will raise up a King from the lineage of David. This King will have the Spirit of God and rule with all righteousness over the whole earth in ushering in God’s Kingdom. This King, will never fail, but will provide a true hope to all who turn to Him. That King is Jesus Christ!