Advent Reflections – Be Still…

Luke 2:1-20 – The Birth of Our King

It’s no longer Advent. We have arrived at Christmas, when we celebrate Jesus’ first coming. Merry Christmas! Whether you have read this passage a gazillion times or this is your first time, let the impact of the miracles of that glorious night touch your heart.

The angels declared, “The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” This is a story that has God’s fingerprints all over it. The timing was perfect, placing Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem. God never said his entrance into the world would be flashy, and the humility played out perfectly. Between the angels and the shepherds, there was no need for a newspaper headline (had there been newspapers back then). What strikes you in this message? Continue reading “Luke 2:1-20 – The Birth of Our King”

Luke 1:26-38 – You Have Found Favor

Read Luke 1:26-38

Don’t we all desire to find favor with the LORD? Some of us may go out of our way to try harder than we need to. After all, God chose Mary for her humility and devotion. Who God chooses to do mighty things doesn’t always seem predictable, except that it will be unexpected. But just imagine hearing an angel telling you that “YOU” have found favor with the Lord. Priceless!

I loved how our pastor used this story in a sermon recently. He showed Mary’s obedience as a great role model for us. He contrasted Mary to Jonah, and while Jonah rebelled a bit, like we often do, Mary said before the angel left, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” What a beautiful dedication to the Lord. Continue reading “Luke 1:26-38 – You Have Found Favor”

Isaiah 7:10-16 – God With Us

Read Isaiah 7:10-16

Immanuel means “God with us.” One of my favorite Advent hymns is “O Come O Come Emmanuel.” If spelled with an “I”, it’s in Hebrew, and with an “E” is the Greek translation. We recognize it as a very fitting name for Jesus. In just a few short days, we’ll be celebrating the birth of Jesus, our Immanuel. Because of Jesus, we have God with us. Do you believe that?

This prophecy from God through Isaiah may have a double fulfillment. We are most familiar with Matthew’s quoting the portion that refers to Jesus’ mother. “The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).” From our perspective, Jesus fulfills this without question. Continue reading “Isaiah 7:10-16 – God With Us”

Micah 5:2-5a – O Bethlehem!

Read Micah 5:2-5a

The location was set years before Jesus was even born. How cool is that! Bethlehem was the chosen spot for the miraculous birth. Micah’s prophecy reads almost like a riddle. There are so many great images of Jesus here. Our Advent preparations are winding down as our Christmas celebrations soon begin.

God chose Bethlehem, and then he orchestrated the events that led to Jesus’ humble birth. Even the size of this town is described as a “small village.” If you’ve never lived in a small town, you can’t appreciate the closeness and dedication of the people. Bethlehem would have had a special atmosphere like that. Continue reading “Micah 5:2-5a – O Bethlehem!”

Isaiah 9:2-7 – A Child is Born

Read Isaiah 9:2-7

Here’s the Advent reading you’ve been waiting for. If you love Handel’s Messiah as I do, then some of these words immediately transform into a melody in your head. You can sing along with the song, For Unto Us A Child Is Born, here, just follow the notes for your part!

The opening line has quite a message, too. “The people who walk in darkness will see a great light.” Who is Isaiah talking about? Plenty of people walk in darkness every day. Some things never change. Since Jesus is the light of the world, this simple sentence packs a lot of hope. We can only pray that those lost in darkness will not only see the light, but that the light will expose and cleanse their hearts. Continue reading “Isaiah 9:2-7 – A Child is Born”