ISAIAH 9:1-7
Last week Pastor Matt spoke of a prophecy in Isaiah regarding the coming of the Messiah. I can’t imagine the anticipation his chosen people must have felt and the hope that they held in this coming king! Little did they know, it would be many, many years later, beyond their lifetimes that He would come, but their hope and faith kept them going in the waiting. I often think of Jesus’ second coming and the generations before us who have been waiting since the resurrection of Jesus. It’s been two thousand years and those who put their hope in Him still wait.
Waiting...an often difficult task. Waiting can often bring worry, stress, anxiety, irritability, longing, and even desperation. What we wait for is something so good because it is what we were made to wait for. Our hope lies in the waiting. So what do we do in the meantime? We wait with eager anticipation but we must also do as He has commanded us to do: “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””
Matthew 28:18-20 ESV
He is with us while we wait. Through His word He is with us too. While we wait we must dig into His word and put it into action. “He gave His Word to us so that we would know the truth, because it’s His truth that sets us free.” (YouVersion Bible reading plan: How to Start Reading the Bible) This freedom is what we long for and it can only be found in Jesus, while we wait.
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.””
John 8:31-32 ESV
And from the prophecy in Isaiah 9, Jesus gives us more hope to walk in: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””
John 8:12 ESV
We can walk in this light as we walk alongside Him! While we wait, He is our light, our life and our freedom! And Isaiah 9 tells us we wait for the return of our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, and great light.
The song “Even so Come” by Passion reminds us to worship while we wait as well!
“So we wait
We wait for You
God we wait
You're coming soon
So we wait
We wait for You
God we wait
You're coming soon
Like a bride
Waiting for her groom
We'll be a church
Ready for You
Every heart longing for our King
We sing
Even so come
Lord Jesus come
Even so come
Lord Jesus come”
So church, will you join me while we wait in eager anticipation for our King? May we walk alongside Jesus and each other as we make disciples, dig into His word and worship!
Merry Christmas!
In Him,
Katie