Let us return

“Come, let us return to the LORD; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.

(Hosea 6:1-2)

Besides being an early prophecy of the resurrection, this is a great call for us to return to the Lord. Every time God threw in a mention of the Messiah, it was in the midst of a call to get right with Him, to live life in His presence.  Every time we celebrate Advent is a season for us to repent, to return to Him, to seek His revival. 

Mercy and Grace

“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10
It's what we need: God's mercy and grace. God promised to send it - in fact, to pour it out. And He has - in His Son Who was pierced and Who shed His blood for us.  So thankful He keeps His promises.

The Righteous One

"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’  " Jeremiah 23:
As much as Israel was looking for their Messiah to come - a king after the line of David, deep down they knew, and God reminded them, that what they needed was righteousness.  They were not right with God; they needed One to save them and to rule over them.  Jesus is that righteous One, the one we all need to save us and rule over us.  God has raised Him up for us.

Looking for a sign from God???

 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 ESV)
As He promised, God has sent a sign, a living and breathing sign, who displayed for us His love and power.  Everywhere we go we see signs for sales, trying to tell us what we need.  But they are made of dead wood.  Jesus is the one we need - the living Word of God to us.  Let us look to Him!

Time to get ready...

 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. (Malachi 3:1-2 ESV)
Israel was looking for Her long-awaited Messiah.  But was she ready? Are we ready? Malachi, the last-recorded prophet of the Old Testament challenged them and challenges us to get ready for His coming.  Let us look back and be reminded of His promises.  Let us look up and seek Him. Let us look within and open our hearts to see and listen.

Glad you came... glad you left???

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.  (Luke 24:50-53 ESV)
Jesus left this earth much as He came - without worldwide public acclaim, something special to look at in the sky, a special messenger from heaven, and... joy.  His Incarnation and ascension were both accompanied by great joy.  His followers were glad to see Him go.  What a change from the days of the cross and before. Whenever He talked about "going away" they became upset. But now, joy. Why? Because now their hearts and minds were open to see how it all fits together. Now they believe all the promises are true - those of Scripture, those of the Savior. And He is coming back, just as He said. It's all part of the big picture. Now, when we talk of Christ at any time in His visitation, we can look at it with great joy, as we look forward to His return as well.

Opened Minds

 Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:44-49 ESV)
Skepticism.  It rules and reigns in our hearts and minds.  Even with all the evidence and testimony that Christ has presented and others have given throughout history, we have a bent toward skepticism.  We have closed minds to the truth.  When that stops, and the light comes on, and the Holy Spirit takes the truth and transforms our lives, it makes all the difference.  It is something we not only believe, but can not help but share.