Fourth Sunday of Advent: Called to Love

December 23, 2018

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Called to Love

“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.” Isaiah 9:6

Time is a Gift created by God; He gives it to us, and we must choose how to spend it.

As Christmas rapidly approaches, most of us ponder over how we will spend the final days of the Christmas season. While stress often increases in some people’s lives, others want Christmas to linger and are deeply saddened as the turn of the calendar page draws nearer…leaving Christmas behind.

If you are like me, I cherish the Christmas Light which shines brilliantly into the darkness…the Song of Christmas as voices blend themselves together to sing and to celebrate the King…and the Blessing of Belief and the signs reminding us of the Gift of Christmas…the Hope of our Savior! Yes…we must choose how to spend our days, the Gift of Time.

Called to Learn…

One of the most Jesus-centered books in the OT is the book of Isaiah, the book containing God’s message to Judah, the Southern Kingdom of Israel. The name Isaiah means, ‘The Lord is salvation’ and Isaiah was called to bring a message of Truth to God’s people, a message of the necessity for repentance and change. Amazingly, this book points toward the coming of the Messiah and contains profound details of His identity, His birth, and His life. God’s purpose was and is to turn the hearts of His people back to Him, and to teach them about their coming Messiah, so they would not miss Him.

However, 700 years later, many missed out on the most glorious news, because they did not know what God had said…they did not know the details concerning His Son-the Messiah… Jesus. The Messiah was not who some expected and they missed Him!

How Will We Choose to Spend Our Time…

Today, on the fourth Sunday of Advent, may we be and remain intentional to learn more about what God has said. May we yearn to know more details about the Messiah, the One who came as Eternal Salvation, born into circumstances of obscurity, but lived with Divine Authority and conquered the enemy of His Kingdom ,once and for all, offering us the gift of eternal life. The Word of God tells us…

He is the Counselor who never leaves us alone, but advises, leads, consoles, comforts, guides…

He is the Almighty God who reigns and is sovereign over all…over all Time…over all Places…over all People. He is the One True God.

He is our Father, the One who loves perfectly and unconditionally…In God’s Kingdom, there is not one who is Father-less…His Love is forever and everlasting.

He is the Source of Peace…Perfect Peace-God’s Peace-the Peace each one of us craves and hungers for…

We are Called to Love…

Most of us would agree that in order to understand and know one another better, in friendships, families and marriages, we must take time to learn about the other person. My Husband, Billy, and I have been married almost forty years. That is a lot of time invested. But, had we not made an effort and become intentional, and devoted to learning about and understanding each other, all of the time of married years would not have produced the level of understanding, and the love which comes from time spent seeking and pursuing each other.

Learn…Understand…and Love More…

The same principle is true of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. He has given us the Gift of Time…and we must choose how to spend the gift. When we are intentional and devoted to pursuing Him and to learning and knowing more about Him, our relationship with Him grows closer and more intimate…we can love Him while He loves us perfectly.

Today, on this fourth Sunday of Advent, and all the days after, may we be intentional to sit for a while, to open our Bibles to read, to study, to pursue, and to seek Him. Jesus is more, so much more than we can possibly imagine. Isaiah tells us:

“Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.” Isaiah 28:16

Oh my friends, we are able to keep Christmas in our hearts every day of our lives, To Listen and Hear the Song of Christmas and to sing it so others will know…We are able to Look toward the Light and to Shine it…we are able to read, study, and devour His Word, to Learn more about our Messiah…and to Love Him more.

Time is a Gift created by God; He gives it to us, and we must choose how to spend it.

In these days, may we choose to remember and to reflect on the Blessing of Belief…Whoever Believes in Him will be unshakable! Jesus is our Hope; He is with us; He will come again. Take these moments and Go and Tell everyone this Wonderful News-Christmas News!

Christmas Blessings…

Love you in Jesus,