Introduction
Hello church and welcome to our Advent journey! May this time you’ve set aside to spend in the word restore hope to your heart! May the repetition of our passage help God’s word to become a familiar and meaningful light to your path today.
Let’s begin with a brief pause to settle our thoughts and prepare room in our hearts to be transformed with God’s word.
Let’s begin with a brief pause to settle our thoughts and prepare room in our hearts to be transformed with God’s word.
Opening Prayer
Loving and Generous God, thank you for providing time to spend focused on You. May Your Spirit illuminate the scriptures and the hope You have for us today. King Jesus, Refresh us with Your presence we pray.
Today's Scripture - Isaiah 64:1-9
Oh that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would tremble before You!
As when the fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!
For when You did awesome things that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains trembled before You.
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, You were angry.
How can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on Your name or strives to lay hold of You; for You have hidden Your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins.
Yet O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD; do not remember our sins forever.
Oh, look upon us, we pray, for we are all Your people.
As when the fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!
For when You did awesome things that we did not expect, You came down, and the mountains trembled before You.
Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.
You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember Your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, You were angry.
How can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. No one calls on Your name or strives to lay hold of You; for You have hidden Your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins.
Yet O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD; do not remember our sins forever.
Oh, look upon us, we pray, for we are all Your people.
God's word to us, a lamp for our feet, a light on our path. Thanks be to God.
Reflection
When was the last time you were caught off guard and amazed by something unexpected? Beauty that takes your breath away, an outcome you could never have orchestrated on your own, maybe the forgiveness from someone you wounded, or an unexplainable supernatural joy and contentment amidst circumstances that would normally leave you anxious and frustrated?
Isaiah tells us that “since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides our God, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.”
We do live in this present reality - these words are true and accurate in describing the character of the God we know.
Rather than trembling mountains, let the awesome reality of being rooted and established in a God who acts on our behalf be the source of our Joy and Strength. May we have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ is. May we know this love that surpasses knowledge, May our doubting and un-expecting hearts be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Grasping the fullness of Christ’s love in a meaningful, life-changing way would require a mighty act to be sure! It would require a level of understanding beyond any mind’s ability, regardless of how great an intellect one has. Paul assures us that our King is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.
Isaiah tells us that “since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides our God, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.”
We do live in this present reality - these words are true and accurate in describing the character of the God we know.
Rather than trembling mountains, let the awesome reality of being rooted and established in a God who acts on our behalf be the source of our Joy and Strength. May we have power to grasp how wide and long and high and deep the love of Christ is. May we know this love that surpasses knowledge, May our doubting and un-expecting hearts be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Grasping the fullness of Christ’s love in a meaningful, life-changing way would require a mighty act to be sure! It would require a level of understanding beyond any mind’s ability, regardless of how great an intellect one has. Paul assures us that our King is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us.
Joy to the world
The Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and Nature Sing!
Closing Prayer
As you go about your day, carry this short prayer with you:
Lord Jesus, You act on my behalf!
In my waiting, help my heart to remember the Hope I have in You.
In my waiting, help my heart to remember the Hope I have in You.
Take a few moments now to pray to God, Whose love is beyond measure.
Thank you for joining us today. On Wednesday we will reflect together on God as our Father. Until then, may the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
