Thursday, December 20, 2012 -- Advent Week 3 -- The Comfort Of Dependable Truth
Thursday December 20, 2012
“Comfort, oh comfort my people,” says your God. Speak softly and tenderly to Jerusalem, but also make it very clear that she has served her sentence, that her sin is taken care of— forgiven! (Isaiah 40:1-2 MSG)
God made us as people who function best in relationship with Him and with others. He designed us that way. The Bible tells us that God walked in the cool of the evening breeze with Adam and Eve. When they disobeyed God, He came as usual to meet with them, but, they were hiding. Due to Adam and Eve’s disobedience they became fearful, and their trusted relationship with God was broken. The evil one had convinced them that God was not good; that God had lied when He told them what would happen if they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
God is not like people. He tells no lies. He is not like humans. He doesn't change his mind. When he says something, he does it. When he makes a promise, he keeps it. (Numbers 23:19 GW)
When the devil wants to destroy and steal from our lives, he works hard to break down our relationships, particularly our relationship with God. All we have to do is walk in isolation for any reason at all and we’ve moved outside the plan of life and goodness that God created us to enjoy. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep…Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures. The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life. (John 10:7, 9-10 NLT)
We celebrate Christmas because it reminds us that God allowed His son to come to earth to fulfill His plan of salvation. Jesus willingly left heaven to come in order that we could live in close relationship with God our Loving Heavenly Father. Jesus set aside all His rights so He could take on human flesh, live on earth as an obedient servant and then give His life on our behalf.
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8 NLT)
Advent's invitation to us today is to welcome the comfort of God's forgiveness for all our sin. Will we receive the rich and satisfying life Jesus came to bring us?
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