CELEBRATING ADVENT: Jesus Christ

INCARNATION

In the beginning when the world began, God was there -

He is eternal and unchanging, as the Scriptures declare.

The God who created everything by His Word alone

Chose to come to us and make Himself known.

And all those who believe and place their trust in Him,

His Spirit indwells and transforms them from within.

~ Darlene Koop, Dec. 31-2012 ~

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. ~ John 1:14 ~

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ~ 1 John 4:9 ~

What a miracle, that the Son of God was supernaturally conceived and miraculously born of a virgin -- God come to earth in human flesh! For the One who spoke the whole world into existence, this was not impossible, and it was the way He chose to make Himself personally known to mankind.

Yet even more incredibly miraculous is the way that God, by the power of His Holy Spirit, can live inside us and change us from the inside out! This is why the incarnation is not confined merely to the celebration of Christmas -- because the greatest miracle was the redemption that Jesus Christ purchased for us when He died on the cross and rose from the dead.

And though Christ's incarnation is complete, we have not yet been fully glorified. This is why we eagerly await the second coming of our Lord -- when we will finally see Him in all of His glory and we will know Him and live with Him the way God intended it to be from the beginning.

Without Christmas, without the cross and the empty grave, this hope would not be possible. And so, although for many of us the celebrations are over for another year, I issue this challenge:

Let us celebrate the miracle, the incarnation of the One and Only King, Lord and Savior of the world, all year long, remembering that without Him we would be nothing. Let us eagerly await and pray for His return, always keeping it in view. And may we accept His work in our lives, allowing the Potter to mold us so that daily we become a little more like Him.

Father, please help us to keep this reminder in view and to live more like You each day. Thank You for the great and incomparable love that compelled You to send Your only Son to save us and bring us into fellowship with You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said..."Oh, righteous Father! The world has not known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them." ~ John 17:1a, 25-26 ~

CELEBRATING ADVENT: Joy

REALIZATION

Was it in the moment when Mary first heard the news?

Or when angels announced the birth of the long-awaited King of the Jews?

Imagine their exceeding great joy when they saw at last

The fulfillment of prophecy from long ages past.

And our hearts can all be filled with joy, still today,

In realizing God's greatest gift of salvation and grace.

~ Darlene Koop, Dec. 31-2012 ~

...and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary, His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. ~ Matthew 2:9b-11a ~

And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant...For He who is mighty has done great things for me and holy is His name. And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation." ~ Luke 1:46-48a, 49-50 ~

I am happy and I have joy in my heart.
For some people, those two words -- happiness and joy -- are synonymous, but there is a difference between them. And many people say that they want to be happy, when the real and deepest desire of their hearts is to find a true joy that lasts.

Friends, the message of the Christmas season brings us that joy that our world is searching for -- but it is not always realized or recognized because of the way in which God revealed it.

People look for happiness and joy in things they can see and touch, but those things will always disappoint. Happiness can be found in circumstances, but is usually temporary -- joy comes from knowing a truth that will not change, no matter what happens in our lives or the world around us.

So what is the joy that we celebrate at Christmas? Certainly, the birth of Jesus Christ. But if we stop there, we miss what Christmas is really all about.

The miraculous thing about true joy is that it continually increases and satisfies our hearts in a way nothing else can. The exceeding great joy that the wise men felt as they saw and worshiped the King of Kings that first Christmas was because they realized WHO HE WAS and WHY HE HAD COME.

And we, too, can experience that joy in ever-increasing measure, because of what happened after that wonderful, holy night just over 2000 years ago. I don't know if the people who were living on the earth at that time fully comprehended the reason for Christ's birth...that may be what Jesus meant when He said to Thomas, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).

This world is not all there is -- and though this is where life begins, it does not end here. Jesus Christ is coming again, and for we who have believed although we have never seen Him, there are no words to describe the joy that we will know on that day.

The Savior of the world came - into the dark, smelly shadows of a stable on a night that was perhaps cold and dreary - and His first advent brought a joy and hope that people had never known. But the plan was not complete with His birth, or even His death and resurrection...for behold, He is coming again!! And His second advent will be even greater than the first -- for "every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11).

Then will we realize in fullness who He really is...and so until that day, let us continually find our joy in the only One who can satisfy our hearts -- Jesus Christ, our Savior, Lord, and King!

In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith...may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and glory, receiving the end of your faith  - the salvation of your souls. ~ 1 Peter 1:6-7a, 8-9 ~

CELEBRATING ADVENT: Peace

PROCLAMATION

Beginning in Genesis, and through to Revelation,

The Bible is one incredible proclamation.
Messengers don't need great power or even to be well-known; 
They simply have to share the truth they've been shown.
If we will proclaim God's true message of peace,
He will touch people's hearts and cause faith to increase.
 ~ Darlene Koop, Dec. 24-2012 ~

"Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore they shall know in that day that I am He who speaks: 'Behold, it is I.' How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, to Zion who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns!' " ~ Isaiah 52:6-7 ~

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord...that He may be glorified." ~ Isaiah 61:1-2a, 3b ~

There are all kinds of proclamations made in our world today, and especially during holidays like Christmas...but it may not necessarily be the truth that is proclaimed.

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, but in essence, we are celebrating more than just that one glorious event -- we are celebrating Him and the reason WHY He came to earth as a baby, as a human. Yet that truth is not universally proclaimed and it is often tagged on at the end of the rest of the activities that we seem to think are so important.

I am thankful for my family, for the abundant blessings God has given me, and for all the things that make Christmas such a special time -- beautiful songs that proclaim His truth, lights and beauty, events that bring friends and family together to make memories -- but I feel the most joy when I celebrate Jesus and all that He is and what He has done for us.

The peace He came to bring is more than just a feeling -- it is a radically different way to live, to think, to love. And it can only be realized in our hearts and lives when we allow Jesus Christ to be at the center, to lead us in His way and to learn His truth and share that with others around us.

So what are we are going to proclaim this Christmas? And let us not just proclaim the message of Jesus Christ because we should, but because of what it says in Isaiah 61:3 -- in order that God may be glorified. Because,  it doesn't stop at the end of December, when our celebrations are finished and we return to the regular routines of life.

Through Jesus Christ, God has brought peace and joy to us who believe -- but His plan is not yet complete. There is still sin, evil and pain in our broken world, and He longs to set everyone free, to bring hope, freedom, life and joy to every person. And one day, every single person in the world will know and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, and in the new heaven and new earth there will be perfect peace and harmony like never before for all those who believe in Him.

But some may never know unless we speak the truth, unless we proclaim what God has made known to us and what we see when we recall how Christ was born and why He came...

Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples. For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised... honor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! Tremble before Him, all the earth. Say among the nations, "The Lord reigns...For He is coming, for He is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with His truth."
~ Psalm 96:2-4a, 6a, 9-10a, 13 ~

CELEBRATING ADVENT: Faith

ANNUNCIATION

From ages past God has been heard

through messengers who spoke His Word;

Although His face they could not see, still His truth many would believe.

On the day Mary heard God's voice, in her heart she chose to rejoice -

The angel's news changed her life evermore

as she humbled herself before the Lord.

And still in our lives today, when God speaks we must obey:

Trusting when we can't understand - this faith is a blessing from His hand.

~ Darlene Koop, Dec. 7-2012 ~

And the angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God"...Then Mary said, "Behold, the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her. ~ Luke 1:35, 38 ~

Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord"...Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. ~ Luke 1:10-11, 17-18 ~

Many people do not believe that God still speaks today like He did in times past. Most of us probably have not seen an angel personally deliver a message to us from God, but He does still speak and the question for us today is...when we hear His voice and understand His message, how will we respond?

I listened to a powerful sermon the other day in which the pastor spoke about the difference in Mary's and Zechariah's responses to the angelic annunciations they received...Zechariah doubted and Mary believed.  But before we criticize Zechariah for his doubt, I think we need to search our own hearts and honestly acknowledge that there have been times when we have not believed the message God made known to us.

Why is this so important? Because, as it says in Hebrews 11:6 -- "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."

God has declared in His Word that all those who believe on the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, receive Him and are given the right to become children of God (John 1:12). The real treasure of Christmas is the truth that Jesus Christ came to provide salvation, which comes through faith in Him (Romans 1:16-17).

So, amid the wonder and beauty all around us and in the joy of sharing the love and abundant gifts and blessings God has given us, let us also announce the truth of the gospel in the hope that someone may hear and believe.

"Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets, who have been since the world began..." ~ Luke 1:68-70 ~

CELEBRATING ADVENT: Hope

EXPECTATION
From before time began God had a marvelous plan;

The Bible is the story of His revealed glory.

Long years of waiting, His people anticipating - 

The day that would come, bringing the birth of God's Son.
And we are waiting still, for God's plan to be fulfilled:
When we shall see our Saviour, Jesus Christ, in whom is our delight.
~ Darlene Koop, Dec. 3-2012 ~

The celebrations and preparations that surround us at this time every year often give me pause...even as much as I enjoy the lights and the decorations and just about everything else associated with this season, what we truly celebrate at Christmas has so much more significance!!

"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." ~ Micah 5:2 ~

"Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel." ~ Isaiah 7:14 ~

We live in the time after Christ's birth, so those prophecies have already been fulfilled, but there is still a sense of expectancy and hopeful waiting. Why? Because Jesus Christ is coming again!

The birth of Jesus Christ was the catalyst for the greatest miracle of all -- the miracle of bringing sinful broken people into reconciliation and relationship with their Creator God. But the story doesn't end there...God's plan is not yet complete.

Jesus Christ is coming again, and just like His birth, no one knows when it will be except God the Father. This second coming is the reason for our hope -- that one day we will see Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Let us not place our own expectations on when or how He will return, but simply wait and trust -- and let us give Him the honor and the worship He deserves. It is truly all about Him.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us..." ~ Titus 2:11-14 ~