The first week of Advent emphasized PROMISE. God had promised through the prophets the coming of one who would bring freedom for captives, light for those in darkness, and the reign of God’s Kingdom upon the earth.
The second week of Advent emphasized FAITH. Not all of those who received word of the promise being fulfilled responded in faith. Zechariah was one of those, and yet God still broke through the barriers of human fallibility to bring about his fulfillment.
This week, the third week of Advent, we emphasize HOPE. Faith is the evidence of things “hoped” for…the evidence of which is not seen (Heb 11:1). We know that Jesus has come, and we hope for his coming again. Those in the first Advent had hope for a Messiah to come. They had prayed for it, and they hoped for it. Still hope is an active exercise of faith. It is the willingness to align ourselves in character and obedience to the fulfillment of what is “hoped for”, but not yet seen.
Romans 8:24-25 (NASB)
24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
SUNDAY - Dec 14th
Read: Luke 1:13-25 (NASB)
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.
14 "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb.
16 "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.
17 "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children , and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
18 Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years."
19 The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 "And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.
22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.
23 When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.
24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,
25 "This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men."
Romans 5:1-8 (NASB)
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
There is much to meditate around the theme of hope. Zechariah seemed to have lost hope in both the birth of a child and the coming of the Messiah. That’s worth meditating on/thinking about. Our hope is usually layered…we hope, or don’t hope, in more than one thing at a time. In this world of fast-lane technology and disposable materiality, hope is under assault. It’s easy to get impatient and lose faith in the things we hope for, and much more difficult to persevere and remain faithful as we hope for God’s promise and wait in faith.
So, take some time to ask yourself, “What am I hoping for in God? In this time of Advent while you are giving yourself to seek his face to see the beauty of Christ in Christmas, what are you hoping for in your life, in your future, in your family and friends, in your fellowship together with other Christians, in your work, in your pleasure, and even in your sorrows?
Here’s a short prayer from Henri Nouwen to help us focus this week:
“Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness,
send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do
seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things
look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways
long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy
seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!”
The second week of Advent emphasized FAITH. Not all of those who received word of the promise being fulfilled responded in faith. Zechariah was one of those, and yet God still broke through the barriers of human fallibility to bring about his fulfillment.
This week, the third week of Advent, we emphasize HOPE. Faith is the evidence of things “hoped” for…the evidence of which is not seen (Heb 11:1). We know that Jesus has come, and we hope for his coming again. Those in the first Advent had hope for a Messiah to come. They had prayed for it, and they hoped for it. Still hope is an active exercise of faith. It is the willingness to align ourselves in character and obedience to the fulfillment of what is “hoped for”, but not yet seen.
Romans 8:24-25 (NASB)
24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
SUNDAY - Dec 14th
Read: Luke 1:13-25 (NASB)
13 But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your petition has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will give him the name John.
14 "You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.
15 "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother's womb.
16 "And he will turn many of the sons of Israel back to the Lord their God.
17 "It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children , and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
18 Zacharias said to the angel, "How will I know this for certain? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years."
19 The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.
20 "And behold, you shall be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and were wondering at his delay in the temple.
22 But when he came out, he was unable to speak to them; and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple; and he kept making signs to them, and remained mute.
23 When the days of his priestly service were ended, he went back home.
24 After these days Elizabeth his wife became pregnant, and she kept herself in seclusion for five months, saying,
25 "This is the way the Lord has dealt with me in the days when He looked with favor upon me, to take away my disgrace among men."
Romans 5:1-8 (NASB)
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
There is much to meditate around the theme of hope. Zechariah seemed to have lost hope in both the birth of a child and the coming of the Messiah. That’s worth meditating on/thinking about. Our hope is usually layered…we hope, or don’t hope, in more than one thing at a time. In this world of fast-lane technology and disposable materiality, hope is under assault. It’s easy to get impatient and lose faith in the things we hope for, and much more difficult to persevere and remain faithful as we hope for God’s promise and wait in faith.
So, take some time to ask yourself, “What am I hoping for in God? In this time of Advent while you are giving yourself to seek his face to see the beauty of Christ in Christmas, what are you hoping for in your life, in your future, in your family and friends, in your fellowship together with other Christians, in your work, in your pleasure, and even in your sorrows?
Here’s a short prayer from Henri Nouwen to help us focus this week:
“Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness,
send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do
seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day.
We who are anxious over many things
look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways
long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy
seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, “Come Lord Jesus!”
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