Isaiah 51:11, Luke 2:10, 1 Peter 1:8-9 :: December 22, 2019
Week #4: Exuberance
“Advent” means “coming.” Christmas is coming. Jesus has come and is coming again.
During this year’s Advent season, we are pondering on how faithful believers have always waited for the Messiah and how we should anticipate His coming today.
[LIGHT FIRST CANDLE AGAIN.]
Our first candle was a candle of confidence. God’s people throughout the ages have always been able to fully trust in the coming of the Messiah because God’s faithful promises will never pass away.
[LIGHT SECOND CANDLE AGAIN.]
Our second candle was a candle of patience. God’s people have had to wait a long long time for the Messiah to arrive. Like watchmen waiting for the morning, they have patiently scanned the horizon.
[LIGHT THIRD CANDLE AGAIN.]
Our third candle was a candle of diligence. While they waited for the Messiah, God’s people have never sat idle. We work while we wait, staying busy until the Master returns.
[LIGHT FOURTH CANDLE.]
Our fourth candle is a candle of exuberance.
God’s people have always believed that the coming of the Messiah would usher in incredible joy. The prophet Isaiah predicted that on that day:
[READ ISAIAH 51:11.]
And so it was. When Jesus was born, the angels announced “good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” And that joy remains with us today even while wait for the greatest consummation of that joy still to come.
The apostle Peter says, “Though you have not seen [Jesus], you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
May we be filled with exuberant joy while we wait for everlasting joy to crown our heads.
Come, Lord Jesus, come.
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