Before we start, it is important to understand what Advent means. This may be your first time to even participate in Advent. The word advent literally means “coming.” During Advent we celebrate God’s faithfulness to us in the arrival of Jesus which fulfilled so many promises God made to the Old Testament saints. We also look forward to Jesus’ return, a promise yet to be fulfilled.
Today’s reading is found in Isaiah 9:6-7 (NLT).
For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!
A promise is a declaration that a particular thing will happen. In our world, today, promises are made and broken all the time. No wonder it is difficult for mankind to believe in a Messiah who has come and will come again. In this passage, Isaiah gave a prophecy from God about the child who was to come. This child, the Messiah, is the reason we celebrate Christmas. Messiah (from Hebrew mashiah meaning “anointed”) is the promised deliverer of the Jewish people, and He would come from the family line of David. When we consider the One who made the promise it should shift our perspective. God’s promises can be trusted because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Take some time today to focus your mind on Christ, the Messiah, and consider this question:
Are you eagerly awaiting the second coming of Christ?