Blogging Through The Season - Day 12
BLOGGING THROUGH THE ADVENT SEASON
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
DAY 12
Hope, Peace, Love and Joy Fulfilled in Jesus
Rev. Robert Rose
Today, we culminate our studies and blogging on the lives of key characters in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. But we would have reached an anticlimax if we did not speak about the man himself: Jesus. We have learnt through these studies that everything God does is purposeful and well-timed, so we only need to trust His divine plan which can never fail. We have also learned that Jesus was represented by many types and antitypes before He ever came in the flesh. God has certainly been in the story from before the beginning of time. God is in the story; God is in the details.
Hope was fulfilled in Jesus’s coming. The Bible tells us "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. In order to give us Hope, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). Hope was fulfilled in Jesus through his birth, sacrificial death and glorious resurrection. Jesus's birth signaled his glorious defeat of the enemy of our souls along with hell, death and the grave. This is why so many were angered and threatened by his arrival and ministry. It was really the enemy who was threatened and worked through those who persecuted Him.
Peace was also fulfilled in Jesus’s coming. Isaiah prophesied that Jesus’s name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”–Isaiah 9:6. Also in Philippians 4:6-7, Paul reminds us "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." There is no peace or true satisfaction outside of Jesus.
In Psalm 89:1-4, we also read of God's Covenant of Joy and Love. David declares:
"I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever. You have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. You said, I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations". By this we know that everlasting Joy and His covenant of Love were also fulfilled at His coming.
Hope, Joy, Peace and Love are our real legacy. So when we say "Merry Christmas!" We shouldn't mean beautiful decorations, nice presents, lots of food, fun, family time and festivities--even though these are important...We should really mean: rejoice in the legacy, and the timeless, wonderful gift that you and l have been given in Christ our Savior. By saying "Merry Christmas!" We should really mean-- be joyful in the promise of eternal life, eternal Hope, Joy, Peace and Love that this knowledge brings.
My greatest takeaway from the Advent story is how God chooses humble people like me and you to give His Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, and the awesome responsibility to carry out His divine plan...Lowly people like a young shepherd, a promiscuous woman, a forgotten widow (pretending to be a harlot), a barren senior citizen, a virgin girl and the list goes on. In the Christmas story, we also see Jesus coming on the scene in the very humility in which God seals His divine plan. Today, He is still searching for humble hearts in which to dwell. My answer to God is: If you can use anything Lord, you can use me! So, here's my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.
What will your answer be?
12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
DAY 12
Hope, Peace, Love and Joy Fulfilled in Jesus
Rev. Robert Rose
Today, we culminate our studies and blogging on the lives of key characters in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. But we would have reached an anticlimax if we did not speak about the man himself: Jesus. We have learnt through these studies that everything God does is purposeful and well-timed, so we only need to trust His divine plan which can never fail. We have also learned that Jesus was represented by many types and antitypes before He ever came in the flesh. God has certainly been in the story from before the beginning of time. God is in the story; God is in the details.
Hope was fulfilled in Jesus’s coming. The Bible tells us "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. In order to give us Hope, the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). Hope was fulfilled in Jesus through his birth, sacrificial death and glorious resurrection. Jesus's birth signaled his glorious defeat of the enemy of our souls along with hell, death and the grave. This is why so many were angered and threatened by his arrival and ministry. It was really the enemy who was threatened and worked through those who persecuted Him.
Peace was also fulfilled in Jesus’s coming. Isaiah prophesied that Jesus’s name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”–Isaiah 9:6. Also in Philippians 4:6-7, Paul reminds us "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." There is no peace or true satisfaction outside of Jesus.
In Psalm 89:1-4, we also read of God's Covenant of Joy and Love. David declares:
"I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever. You have established your faithfulness in heaven itself. You said, I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant, I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations". By this we know that everlasting Joy and His covenant of Love were also fulfilled at His coming.
Hope, Joy, Peace and Love are our real legacy. So when we say "Merry Christmas!" We shouldn't mean beautiful decorations, nice presents, lots of food, fun, family time and festivities--even though these are important...We should really mean: rejoice in the legacy, and the timeless, wonderful gift that you and l have been given in Christ our Savior. By saying "Merry Christmas!" We should really mean-- be joyful in the promise of eternal life, eternal Hope, Joy, Peace and Love that this knowledge brings.
My greatest takeaway from the Advent story is how God chooses humble people like me and you to give His Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, and the awesome responsibility to carry out His divine plan...Lowly people like a young shepherd, a promiscuous woman, a forgotten widow (pretending to be a harlot), a barren senior citizen, a virgin girl and the list goes on. In the Christmas story, we also see Jesus coming on the scene in the very humility in which God seals His divine plan. Today, He is still searching for humble hearts in which to dwell. My answer to God is: If you can use anything Lord, you can use me! So, here's my heart Lord, take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.
What will your answer be?
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