16th Day of Advent – December 12th, 2021
Week 3: Joy (or peace) ~ Light 2 purple candles and 1 pink candle
Advent Hymn 🎼 I Wonder As I Wander🎶
John Jacob Niles captured the original words and tune during the depression in the summer of 1933. While traveling in Appalachia of Western North Carolina, historian, songwriter Niles heard the teenage girl of a poor evangelist’s family perform parts of the song to receive a quarter per performance towards gas money. Niles sought to listen to it all but ran out of quarters. Yet, he had enough words to spark his imagination to add three more stanzas to it by October and sang it publicly in December of the same year. The song ponders the story of Christ’s birth and the wonderous gift He is from God.
Verse 1
I wonder as I wander out under the sky,
How Jesus the Savior did come for to die.
For poor on’ry people like you and like I …
I wonder as I wander out under the sky.
Verse 2
When Mary birthed Jesus ’twas in a cow’s stall,
With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all.
But high from God’s heaven a star’s light did fall,
And the promise of ages it then did recall.
Verse 3
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing,
A star in the sky, or a bird on the wing,
Or all of God’s angels in heav’n for to sing,
He surely could have it, ’cause he was the King.
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16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. ~ John 3:16-18
We all make promises with the intent of keeping them. Sometimes, we keep them; other times, we cannot keep what we promised, or we simply forget. God not only keeps ALL His promises but has also made binding, legal agreements and covenants that show His love and faithfulness to us. We can count on Him to come through no matter what.
The Wonder Of A Promise Kept
A promise is an assurance that someone will do something in particular. While we may declare with good intentions to do something, we occasionally need more follow-through. God cannot lie, and His promises display His faithfulness when they are fulfilled in Earth’s timeline.
A covenant, a legal obligation based on agreed-upon promises, is greater than a promise. So God has made covenants—special bonds—between Himself and distinct people from the very beginning.
These significant people in history were Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and King David. Yet, God remained faithful to His promises to them despite their unfaithfulness.
The word for covenant in the Old Testament is “Berit” which appears about 280 times, while “distheke” appears about 33 times in the New Testament.
In the Bible, God repeats what is essential.
The New Covenant made through Christ’s blood manifests God’s unbroken fellowship with us. Jesus’ sinless, perfect sacrifice was the entire payment for our sin. We agree with God that we need a Saviour by confessing our sin. By believing in Jesus’ substitutionary death, we have the assurance of eternal life, which begins the moment we believe.
The baby in the manger did not stay there. Instead, Jesus lived as a prophet, priest, and King in the land of Israel to testify to the truth. Through Him, we may draw near to God, receive mercy, and find grace in our time of need.
A covenant is God’s idea of an ongoing relationship with us. Even if we foul things up, He still desires to restore us. So, as we wander this earth, may we never lose the wonder of God’s profound, loyal love for us.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, enable me to make promises that I will keep by your mercy and grace. May I reflect on Your love as I build relationships with others based on truth and full of love. Let me never forget the great examples of Your promises displayed in the lives of those who came before me. May I continually offer a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving because You are faithful and true!
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Learn more about Jesus here:
https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/
https://watch.thechosen.tv/
The Shepherd: A Story of the First Christmas
https://youtu.be/lVt14Ug-GOs?si=9eoBBSsVJHHwP3Gp
Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night
https://watch.thechosen.tv/video/184683594479?language=en
A young mother labeled “impure.” A shepherd boy considered “unclean.” Experience Jesus’ birth through their eyes as Christmas with The Chosen: Holy Night blends The Messengers and The Shepherd into one special remastered and re-scored story. This special feature also includes an original performance from Andrea and Matteo Bocelli, six favorite songs from the past, and two beautiful new monologues.
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Gleanings From Heaven's Gate 