COME, SEE, AND ADORE by ems 12/16/21
20th Day of Advent
Week 3: Joy (or peace) ~ Light 2 purple candles and 1 pink candle
Advent Hymn 🎼 O Come, All Ye Faithful🎶
Written originally in Latin in the 18th century, additional stanzas collaborated with various writers. The arrangement we sing today was the work of Fredrick Oakeley in 1841.
While not all eight verses are usually sung, the second verse summarizes the Nicene Creed, dating back to 325 A.D. The invitation to all is to come to Bethlehem and see Him, born King of angels. The Latin version, Adeste Fideles, is traditionally the last anthem of Midnight Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.
Verse 1
O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Come and behold him
Born the King of Angels:
O come, let us adore Him, (3Ă—)
Christ the Lord.
Verse 2
God of God, light of light,
Lo, he abhors not the Virgin’s womb;
Very God, begotten, not created:
O come, let us adore Him, (3Ă—)
Christ the Lord.
Verse 3
Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of Heaven above!
Glory to God, glory in the highest:
O come, let us adore Him, (3Ă—)
Christ the Lord.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
4All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing the praises of your name.”
5 COME AND SEE what God has done,
his awesome deeds for mankind!
6 He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the waters on foot—
come, let us rejoice in him. ~Psalm 66:4-6
45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked.
“COME AND SEE,” said Philip. ~ John1:45-46
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. COME AND SEE the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” ~ Matthew 28:5-7
Sometimes, we rely upon others for a report about how things are, but to fully appreciate a situation, we must experience it firsthand. This requires an effort on our part to come and see for ourselves. Imagine if you had been in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago and some excited and joyful shepherds told you about an extraordinary birth and urged you to discover him for yourself. Would you go?
COME, SEE, AND ADORE by ems 12/16/21
 “All of the Bible points to Jesus, what the Old Testament prophesied, the New Testament clarified. What is contained in the old is revealed in the new,” says Scottish pastor Alistair Begg.Â
 It is our privilege to read God’s word in its entirety and learn of His zeal to rescue us by sending His Son.
Gathered eyewitness accounts of Christ’s life on earth are recorded in the New Testament. The stories and events they shared enable us to come and “see” who Jesus is and why He came. But, of course, there were no cameras, videos, or podcasts in those days. Nevertheless, the storytelling of events was crucial for the faith of many in that first century and the birth of the Church.
 By God’s design, we can view an accurate picture of what unfolded each time we open the Bible, and we, too, can respond in faith.Â
The four gospels, later named for their writers, gave snapshots of Jesus’ birth and ministry when He moved from Heaven into our neighborhood.
Each book reflects different aspects of Jesus’ life so vividly we can close our eyes and imagine the scenes that occurred. As Wonderful Counselor, Jesus has all of the answers to life’s questions. And as the Mighty God, He has the authority and power to set us captives free (Isaiah 9:6-7).
So, what did the four gospels clarify about Jesus?
Matthew often quotes the prophets to prove what happened in Jesus’ life, which was written hundreds of years prior (Matthew 13:16-17). Matthew’s words verify that Jesus is the One for whom we waited!
Mark’s gospel tells us that Jesus Christ came as a ransom for our sin to release us from the threat of hell. Mark confirms that Jesus paid for our sin, and our relationship with God is restored!
Luke’s detailed accounts in his writings of Luke and the book of Acts reveal the absolute universality of the gospel – that Christ came, lived a sinless life, and willingly died for ALL people. A testimony that God is for Himself, for all people, and against evil!
The apostle John displays the evangelistic appeal of the Good News and how it captures the heart. Therefore, he validates that God’s love can take our heart of stone, shower it with His healing, and breathe in new life!
Therefore, since we have these verified accounts, we can come and see Jesus and give Him grateful adoration for the freedom He has given us.
O Come, Let Us ADORE Him, Christ the Lord!
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, give me eyes to see ALL You have done for me.Â
Let me come to Jesus with fresh adoration for His costly sacrifice. Thank You that when I face temptation, I can cry out to You for deliverance.
Thank You also for allowing me to confess my sin and be cleansed from all its ugly effects when I fail. Thank You for the gift of faith and for making me a new creation in Christ.Â
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please Like, Subscribe, and Share these devotionals, poems, and ponderings.
Your feedback is valuable to me! Blessings!
Contact me at: englishispeak@aol.com
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.
Grow in your faith through these resources here:
Share this!
Gleanings From Heaven's Gate 