The Second Day of Advent
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 40:1-5
Hope…Trust…Faith. The word hope is translated in the French language as J’espère (I hope). J’espère is not the expression “I hope I can do such and such”. It is to know for certain “I will do such and such”. It is not a wishful saying. When you read the first 5 verses of Isaiah 40, you can hear God saying “My people will be comforted, their sin is paid for and forgiven. My people will have one who prepares the way of the Lord, the pathway will be made straight for the coming of the Lord, the preparation is ready and being completed for the One to come to save the people.” As we have just come out of the celebration of Thanksgiving and look to the celebration of the birth of Christ, may our hearts be full of the Hope (espère )in Christ. Yes, He has come, yes, He has provided for restoration for the people unto Holy God and yes, He has given us His Spirit to live and dwell within us … He is coming again. Is your heart ready for His return? Just as HOPE was given to the nation of Israel through Isaiah, do you see the HOPE given today for the return of Christ. Be comforted, be of great hope, this time Jesus is coming not as a baby, but as the Coming and Reigning King. The celebration of His birth, the celebration of His resurrection, the celebration of His return, ALL is wrapped up in this time of remembering the birth of our Savior. Be of great Hope.
Larry Boggs
This week’s Re:Verse passage is Matthew 1:18 – 2:12
