Advent Bread and Jam

Oh Come, Emmanuel.

Weekends are one of my favorite parts of life, not merely because of downtime from work but also because it is a time of worship and reflection. In that restful state,  I ponder what the Lord has done in my life in the week prior and anticipate what He will do in the coming week.

In previous blogs, I began a tradition by posting weekly "Bread and Jam" sessions. Bread stands for a scripture or word of spiritual encouragement.  A jam session is a group of people getting together and joining spontaneously in heartfelt singing or instrumental playing.  I have decided to continue this tradition by posting Bread and Jam blogs on weekends and holidays.  I will post videos or audio links to songs that are, as my brother puts it, "evoktional", leading us into deeper devotion or reflection. You can sing along or play along with your instrument if you desire. Clap, dance, tap, kneel, or sit quietly but join in with a worshipful heart.

As we relish our recent "giving thanks" holiday moments and step forward with hearts full from worship services and fellowship with spiritual and physical family, we turn our minds toward Christmas, a time to celebrate the incarnation of our Savior, Jesus, the hope of all mankind.  Considering the season we are about to embark, I thought it fitting to begin our new Bread and Jam series with an Advent Reflection on Isaiah's prophecies.

 In Isaiah 60, Israel was still in exile seeking to return and to re-establish their nation. They longed for the Messiah who would come and restore all things. Isaiah prophesied that they would indeed return to their nation, that they would fill the land and become the fascination of the whole world. The Messiah would come through them and bring Salvation to all humanity. The praises of God would be on their lips and the lips of all who came to know Him. Isaiah 7:14 promises that the Savior will be born of a virgin and will be called, "Emmanuel", which means, God is with us.  No longer would Israel be in bondage, and feel abandoned, but instead, they would be filled with joy for the Light of the World who would come. God would come in the form of a baby, to become the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  God would be with them and they would be His people. Although they were looking for a new earthly kingdom, He came to establish a spiritual kingdom, one that was far different and far better than anything they could know.

Just as the faithful in Israel looked forward to Jesus' first coming, so we, who have come centuries later, look back with gratitude at His first coming and with eager anticipation to His Second Coming.  Jesus will come to destroy the darkness and to rule and reign, bringing us with Him as kings and priests to our God. Our freedom from the darkness of sin will be fully realized and we will no longer be slaves to the bodies and this earth which have been destroyed by sin. All the prophecies will be fulfilled and He will be King forever.

As you watch this video, take time to thank Him for the first coming and remind yourself that as we long for His imminent return, we should be praying for and seeking after God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. What is His will? That all should be saved. In heaven, all the saints and spiritual beings worship around the throne of God day and night while God performs acts of authority, salvation, and mercy toward mankind.  The Second Coming of Jesus will occur soon, however, God is patiently waiting for as many as possible to be saved before Jesus comes to judge the world in righteousness for its sin.  His coming is sorrowful for the world but a joy to His own.

     Lord, thank You for coming the first time to be our Savior. How we eagerly yearn to see You and to know the full glory of Your Kingdom here on earth. We wait for Your return, filled with wonder, and expectation.  Come, oh, come, Emmanuel.