The Sent Messenger by ems 12/01/21
Week 1: Hope (or promise) ~ Light 1 purple candle
5th Day Advent
Advent Hymn: 🎼Comfort Ye” and “Ev’ry Valley” from Messiah 🎶
This selection from part 1 of George Frideric Handel’s oratorio Messiah composed in 1741, beautifully expresses the comfort God’s people will experience through the sending of a special messenger, John the Baptist.
Verse 1
Comfort, comfort ye my people,
Speak ye peace, thus saith our God;
Comfort those who sit in darkness,
Mourning ‘neath their sorrows’ load;
Speak ye to Jerusalem
Of the peace that waits for them,
Tell her that her sins I cover,
And her warfare now is over.
Verse 3
For Elijah’s voice is crying
In the desert far and near,
Bidding all men to repentance,
Since the kingdom now is here.
Oh that warning cry obey,
Now prepare for God a way;
Let the valleys rise to meet Him,
And the hills bow down to greet Him.
“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.
Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty. ~ Malachi 3:1
A message is important both to the sender and the receiver.
Today’s messages are emails and texts and occasionally real letters and cards. But sending a person to deliver important news gets our attention! Learn about God’s sent messenger in today’s Advent devotional. God wants to send you as well to share His message.
Who doesn’t love getting an “R.L.”, a real letter, in the mail? Hand-written words of encouragement can mean so much. Better still are shared words during a phone call with a precious friend or family member.
Yet best of all, we look forward to face-to-face news, especially during this time of year when we gather to celebrate.
God in the fullness of time sent a heavenly message of comfort and love through a most incredible messenger. A messenger whose parents had long ago given up the hope of having a child. John the Baptist had a particular job description which was foretold more than 400 years before his birth and the birth of Jesus Christ for whom John would prepare the way.
At the right time, God sent the prophet Elijah before the promised Messiah. Jesus confirms John was that prophet in Matthew 11:7-15.
Why is this significant? Because God announces in advance what He will do and then He does it. So, God can be trusted, because He who promised is faithful and true.
Oftentimes the messages of ancient prophets held words of warning, yet with John the Baptist, God sends a message of love, comfort, and everlasting joy. A message of reconciliation through God’s love letter.
In fact, God sent us a package – He sent Jesus who moved into the neighborhood to show us what God the Father is like.
As we anticipate cards, letters, and packages this Christmas season, may we quickly receive what God has already sent: forgiveness through His Son.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, when I consider all you did to announce the birth of Your Son Jesus, I am humbled. It’s so incredible that You would remember me and send this personal, living letter, Jesus to my heart.
Thank You, ever Thank You!
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Learn more about Jesus here:
https://www.angel.com/watch/the-chosen
https://www.navigators.org/resources/
Gleanings From Heaven's Gate 