Advent: Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Old Testament Lesson

Isaiah 9:8-17

We see in this passage the Lord longed to give mercy to those that were in sin, to those that had turned away, if they would just return and come back to Him. They would not, and because of that, there was no mercy. The only think limiting God's ability to give mercy is our ability to receive mercy.

If, though, we do turn turn from our sin, we cannot receive His mercy. For, as long as we remain in sin, we love sin more than mercy. We love sin, more than doing right. We love sin more that God. John 3 gives us that famous passage of John 3:16, which we all know. Do you know the verses that follow it?

John 3: 19-21

And this is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.'

They loved darkness more than light; they loved sin more than God. Let us not make that same mistake.

New Testament Lesson

2 Pet 2:1-10a

This is one of those passages that we can have a long drawn out discussion about who exactly where the angels that were punished and all that; but, lets think about what is most important. If God would punish these, if God would punish His people Israel, why do we think He would not punish us as well. Just like a parent does not take great joy in punishing their children, neither does God take great joy in punishing us.

But, just as a parent will punish their child, so will our God. Today, as we draw close to Christmas, may we also draw close to our God.

Gospel Lesson

Mark 1:1-8

We see that Mark didn't have time for the manger, didn't have time for the shepherds, didn't have time for the wise men. He launches right into John the Baptist and his message of repentance and salvation. Mark gets right to the point, Jesus came to save the people from their sin.

Mark maybe a good think for us to remember in the coming days. Let us remember that the ministry and work of Jesus didn't end in a manger, and He was not born simply so that we could sing Silent Night and give presents. He was born to save the people from their sin; He was born to teach us how to live and serve; He was born to show us God's great love and to give His live as an atonementfor the world.

Let us remember who is He is, and why He came. And, let us live out the mission He gave us to live.