My sermon last Sunday was on Hope. Last week we began the Advent season by lighting the first Advent candle, the candle of hope. This candle reminds us of the hope God gave His people when He promised to send them a Messiah, a Savior, a Deliverer. The candle reminds us that this promise was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ. And it invites us to look forward in hope to the day of Christ’s second coming.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” –Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)
I was reading this week and read the following:
A missionary had arrived in a small Chinese town. After she arrived, she soon noticed that a gang of bandits had just destroyed the little town and everything in it. Then a native Christian, showed the missionary the ruins of his home; a burnt roof and structure, and furniture, all turned to ashes. Then, what appeared to be the last straw, the native Christian pointed to his hymnbook and Bible. He said, “They even burned my Bible and hymnbook!” And from the ruins, the native picked a single page of his Chinese hymnbook, the only thing to escape the flames! The missionary took up the piece of paper and it read “Joy to the world, the Lord is come!” What an apparent mockery, a note of joy in the midst of total destruction. But the missionary went on to say, that if you could have gone to the little chapel and seen the light on the faces of those native Christians, that evening. Those who had lost nearly everything were speaking of the home that Jesus has prepared for those who love Him. “Yes”, the missionary claimed, “There is joy to the world, but only because the Lord is come!”
May God be blessed in your life today! Keep the Hope as we wait for His Coming!
LaVon and I are truly thankful to God for each of you, your emails, phone calls, prayers, financial support and words of encouragement. We are grateful. Thank you for your continual support and interest in our ministry by investing yourself in many ways as partners with us as we share the Hope of Jesus with the world through the RV ministry.
Have a great day, love you, pass it on.
Don
1 comment:
38 degrees!! Hope you warm it up before we get there!! Like the Joy to the World that is a really moving story!
Post a Comment