Dearly beloved,
"Good news from heav'n the angels bring, Glad tidings to the earth they sing: To us this day a Child is giv'n, to crown us with the joy of heav'n." (Martin Luther 1535)
God is for us...
We are now in the season of Advent, a word that means arrival, or coming. It is a time of expectant waiting, a time of joy and of excitement. As we await the celebration of the first coming of Christ to His world, we experience a growing expectation, excitement, and anticipation as we attend worship services, go caroling together, gather with family and friends, or read, meditate and pray over Advent and Christmas texts from the Bible in order to be refreshed in the knowledge of God becoming one of us.
There is a sense of excitement in the air, even in the dark winter nights of life, that our brighter day of joy is coming soon. Even though we have had many Christmas celebrations come and go; nevertheless, each year it is as if it is the first one all over again.
“For God is coming to be with us.” (Isaiah 7:14)
Isaiah, by faith, 700 years before Christ, was able to peer into the future of the effects of the first coming of Christ, for he spoke of being able to “draw water out of the wells of salvation,” (12:3) and of how the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: “they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 35:10)
For God not only is for us, He came to be with us, so that He might be in us.
Having experienced the forgiveness of sins through Christ’s atonement through faith, we live under the covering of Christ’s righteousness, for we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.(Ephesians 2:20-22) God now in us.
"Mild He lays His glory by, Born that man no more may die; Born to raise the sons of earth, Born to give them second birth, Come, Desire of nations, come, Fix in us they humble home; O to all Thyself impart, Formed in each believing heart!
Hark, the herald angels sing, "Glory to the new born King!" (Charles Wesley 1739)
May we have a blessed Advent season, and a Merry Christmas!
Pastor Orval Wirkkala
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