The Child Jesus in your arms

Luke 2:28 he took it in his arms, praised God and said:

Simeon was a faithful man who lived close to God. The Bible writes about him: a man who was righteous and God-fearing, and even that the Holy Spirit was upon him. Which Simeon had received a revelation from God, that he would not die before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. As he waited, seeing Jesus. He obviously had no idea how Jesus would look like, but when the Spirit of the Lord led him to the temple, he knew right away that this little Child is the Messiah, the Savior and the long-awaited Messiah.

And Simeon took the Child right away in his arms. That little Child of eight days old, that came to the temple with his parents to be circumcised, was lifted by Simeon and Simeon got overflowed with joy. His heart was filled with the Spirit of God and praised God. The Child Jesus is a light to lighten the Gentiles, and to glorify the people of Israel. What a special moment for Simeon, that he might go through this and what he spoke wonderful things about this Child. His soul was filled with this child and he overflowed with the love of God.

Today, we also take into our arms this Child. When we were in church, at home read the Christmas gospel, sang all those beautiful songs and even when we were just silent and thought of the Child of Christmas. We could take the Child in our arms, like when someone gets a baby like the people who are being allowed to hold when they visit. But the important question is: what did you do when the Baby was lying in your arms?

Simeon blessed God! He sang a song of praise about the Light. There we may learn, that we can agree and praise God and thank to this Child Jesus. We should sing to the Child, kneel before Him and be respectful. And when we are silent and marvel at the Child, the Holy Spirit will work in us and fill us with God's love. We will therefore be fulfilled and magnify God.

But you can also have the Baby in your arms today and basically anything you wanted to know. You held it out of decency, out of curiosity or out of habit. If this applies to you today, you may again go to that child and take it again on your arms. Look carefully who it is. This is Jesus, the Son of God who died for your sins. This is Jesus, coming down out of heaven from His throne to serve you and to redeem from sin. He gave His glory out of love for us. Now take the child again in your arms and speak your heart out. Give Him the glory He deserves and worship Him because He is worthy.

When we take Jesus into our arms during Christmas and beyond and see who it is for us, then we will celebrate a wonderful Christmas. We may kneel and worship him. Do you take him in your arms and do you glorify His name?

Oh lovely Child here in my arms, the Light that shines in my dark heart. Let me praise Your name, please let me love You with all my heart and life as you desire it. Thank You Baby, you've come for me to this earth and wanted to die for my sins. You be praised, I love you, from now on and forever. Amen. 

Great joy: Jesus Christ is born

Luke 2:10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

What a shock to the shepherds, because suddenly there is that angel before them. So in the middle of the night, the angel from heaven, who tells the shepherds his message from God. What a wonderful sight would have been, for the glory of the Lord shone around them. It happens to us, of course, not every day that an angel comes to you and not just, but also one that lets shined around us by the glory of the Lord. Moses had seen his face hardened when he came back to the people. And so it is with the shepherds not.

But that is not the most important, because the angel has a message! He has them to preach, to tell something very beautiful thing! He proclaims them great joy! It is not a normal message from heaven, but the message is joy. You should not be afraid, because my message is joy, the angel says. I'm going to tell you something that makes you happy, but the message itself is also joy. No snags, no buts, but only joy.

And what is that joy then? Jesus Christ was born, the Saviour. He promised long ago by God has come to earth to save the people. The misery is over, the time of waiting is over, the break with God will be healed and evil will be overcome again. God comes to earth as a man, and you will find Him wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. The Messiah is so close to you, you can visit him and bring him his glory. Do not be afraid, but rejoice!

We often tend to see again the negative here. Jesus lies in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes. So he is in a stable and not in a palace. We can create an entire musical of how sad it all is and how pathetic. But the angel speaks only of great joy. He talks about anything negative, but he talks about the Savior. Be happy you, for I bring you joy. Jesus is joy, that's the message.

And then we should also be pleased with the shepherds and make ourselves humble. For the great Savior came to earth and now we may hear this Good News: Jesus was born. And yes, he is born for us in a manger and he is wrapped in swaddling clothes for us, but it is pure joy that He came out of love for us.

It's just joy when we believe, when we lay our hearts in the crib and let Jesus reign over us. It is beatific joy when we see how great Jesus is and how He is the King over all the earth. It's just joy when we seek Him along with the shepherds and let fill us with that message. Then it's a blessed Christmas. Then we can despite all the misery in our lives yet know the joy that comes with Christmas. Because the fact is: behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy because He is born Jesus the Savior!

I wish you all a blessed Christmas around the manger. And be filled with joy, for He is joy!

(No) room for Jesus

Luke 2: 7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

What is often spoken and written about those idyllic night in Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary must stay ended after a long journey in a place where normally overnight animals. A place where a crib is, so where the animals are eating. That will be just as worst of the coming of Jesus described to earth. He was born in a stable, among the animals and not in a palace. But the most important is actually at the end of this text because there was no room for them in the inn.

No room for Mary and Joseph, and no room for Jesus in the inn. Other people had taken the place for them and they had to go to the stable, and the child would be born there. It is indeed a sad story and people do it all not know that Mary was pregnant with Jesus, the Son of God. Yet it is typical that precisely at His birth is the text: there is no place for them in the inn. And yet it fits into God's plan. It notes how the world towards the Child is and how difficult it is for Jesus as God come among men. There is no place.

Is there room in you for the Child? It's almost Christmas, and then we should ask ourselves this question. How do we deal with the time of Christmas and do we give all the space to the child to work in our hearts at Christmas? Does He feels himself welcome as we celebrate for him? Does He stands at the centre of everything we do these days? Whether we are busy with family, friends, games, football, drinking, socializing and whatever but to do during Christmas? Or do we open several times a day His Word, do we read all parts of the Christmas Gospel, we go to church, we sing lovely Christmas songs and is that central? Do we make room for him?

Because you're right when you say that we have to do that any day. But every day is so busy and we have much to do. Let us then take Christmas to remember Him, let Him work into our heart and to worship Him. For our heart often has no room for Jesus and everything is so important. We can spend hours working everywhere and all our time in useless stabbing, but Christ demands a place in your heart and that will pay off in time for Him and His Word.

Maybe you have no room for Jesus and that there has never been. Take a look now at that Child, the Son of God. He came as a man to the earth also to die for your sins, and He humbled Himself to you. Not because he liked it so much, but because the punishment had to be carried. Yes, you are sinful and yes, you need forgiveness. Go to Jesus and kneel at his crib and he will come into your heart. Give him space and you will be filled with the Holy Spirit, so that you have more'll see how beautiful and how great Jesus is for you.

Room for Jesus, God has made room for him in heaven. Jesus is sitting there now at God's right hand and pleads for His children. In addition, Jesus makes room ready for us and that is not a manger or stable. Jesus is in heaven, thrones and great seats are ready. He promises us, if we have room for Him. Do you have room for Jesus?

To Your manger Lord is the highest place. Therefore, I kneel at You. Yes, I want to be with You and wish that You take place in my heart. You are Jesus, the Saviour, I adore you.  

God's plan of salvation

Matthew 1: 21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

The feast of Christmas, the coming of Jesus to this earth, is coming. But when you look around, blurs the overall picture of Christmas. It's like a big epidemic in a country and nobody knows what the drug is for it. In fact, many people do not even know they are sick or they do not want to know. That's exactly how things are in this world, the epidemic of sin festers on and people do not know, do not want to know and also don't know the medication.

God's plan of salvation is so beautiful, so full of love and mercy that we had never imagined that. His Son, Jesus Christ is come to earth and died for the sins of the world. And whosoever believeth in Him shall be saved! That's from the fall appeared to God's plan and when God came to Joseph through an angel in a dream, he made his plan known. Mary will give birth to a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.

And if we look around us, your heart will burst with grief. For people outside the church usually don't know the drug anymore. Christmas for them is a festival of lights and good food. Even the name Christmas is banned from advertising and so it's all stashed away. God's plan is covered up and hidden behind conviviality. And that worries, first with God but also His children. Because we indeed want to give every human being the cure for sin. Every human should know that they are sinful and that salvation is in Jesus Christ. Otherwise they will be lost and it is our task to make that in the world everyone knows the Light, just as the shepherds.

But even within the churches, we see the problems. In some churches people are not told that they are ill, they are lost. There is only talk about Jesus, about the drug, but they do not know that they are sick. We need to know that the disease is in us and then we can discover the true love of God and His salvation plan. Jesus Christ who saves from sin. But in other churches the drug is not declared, and if it did happen then it is considered as something unattainable. If a sausage hung in front of us, while we still can not reach.

But we can celebrate Christmas because the Savior came to earth and that He died for the sins! Then we really know Christmas, if we may believe that Jesus died for our sins and paid. We may sing his name at this time of year, you can enjoy the coziness and lights. Because then came God's plan for us to fulfillment, that we might be saved. And that we should tell everyone, both the disease and the drug, so the great Saviour.

You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins. Did he saved you already? Not? Then you can come to Him with your sins, for He will save you. He will not let you stand outside the house, but you may come to the manger and kneel before the Son of God. Then your life is filled and Christmas is a celebration of hope and we can be a light, though we are still small. A flame that burns in the wind. Such a cheerful bright light, which is a beautiful sight. Come on down, it's for everyone.

The star of the new King

Matthew 2: 2 aying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

If you look up into the bright night, you'll see a lot of stars. Some stars are very bright and other stars give less light. The light from the star comes from within and how hard a star fire, much light will take advantage and which can be seen more clearly. And there are a lot of stars, and God has the created them so wonderful. And the wise men saw a special star in the east, a star indicating that the King of the Jews was born. What will that star have been a convulsed star! That burned in full force and announced to the point that Christ was born.

The wise men went on their way to worship the Child. Star out of Jacob who would die for the world. The Son of God who came to earth as common as a little person. The wise men did go and worshiped Him. Why would they nevertheless have done it? They had all kinds of gifts with them and went away empty-handed. They came to worship the Child, to show Him all the glory. That is a profound lesson for us. Our faith is not about ourselves, but about Jesus Christ. The Child in the manger is the long journey of the wise worth and not because they become better by themselves, but purely out of respect and esteem to fall on their knees before the Child.

Herod also wanted to "worship"  the Child. He wanted the child, but did not found. Also, there is a lesson for us, that if we seek the Child, self-interest and not to worship it, we will not find it. We remain empty with a sinful heart behind and miss salvation that wants to bring the child to us. Let us not be like Herod and don't use Christ for personal gain, but looking at the Star to give all the glory to the Child.

Stars, they are so many and especially at this time of year they get attention. They hang on the windows, they are on top of a Christmas tree or even on the roofs of houses. But every star is a messenger of that one Star, who has come out of Jacob. Each star pointing to the greatness and glory of Christ, and then we can go to worship Him. Where that road leads and what the outcome will be, we will surely find Christ and when we worship Him, we will be allowed to be with Him forever.

A star of hope, the hope of the King, as the new King is born. That star is always in sight, the work of the King is exposed and Jesus Christ wants this Christmas and this Advent to be your king. Let this kings Star blasting into your heart, set your heart to be open, be fulfilled by the words of the Holy Spirit.

Because then we read what the wise men do when they found Jesus in verse 11: And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.

Let us adore the Child and give Him everything that matters: our heart.

Abide under the shadow of the Most High

Psalm 91: 1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

Sometimes it can be suddenly dark in your life. Something serious happens and you plunges into a dark period. Of day it is suddenly night for you and you do not know what to do. You have sorrow, great sorrow for what happened and you can not move them on. People may try to encourage you, but it does not help. Then there is only one place you can be and that's the secret place of God. Because no matter how dark the night is, can you stay with him, and he covered you with His shadow.

When God covers you with his shadow. you are not you directly free from your sorrow and misery. But God will surround you and give you His love, however difficult that those moments can be. Because you can ask God, you blame God and do not understand him. These are human reactions, and it is even allowed in that period. But when you do it in His shadow, you speak out to him. You can say anything to God and pour out your heart before Him and He will cover you with His Spirit. He will give you peace because that is ultimately be found in Him, there alone is rest for your soul.

God knows himself better than anyone what it's like to go through difficult times. When the man turned away from Him, God felt pain. When Jesus went to the cross, when He was despised and even had to descend into hell, God will have felt the pain. The guilt is heavy, which makes ourselves in our lives. The pack of sin is a burden, we see everything that happens on earth. And God knows, He knows what we go through and therefore he extends his shadow on us and we can take refuge in him.

Because despite the pain, there is the work of the Son. He has ensured that the misery will not remain so forever. Then he descended to hell and death conquered, He will stand in our place. But Jesus knows the burden of sin, He bore all on his shoulders. But He did it out of love for us. And with His loving arms he would surround us, especially in times of loss and severe pain. He heals the wounds and anoints our hearts with His blessed hands. Deep wounds he puts his fingers and heavy tears he dries.

Therefore, we should go to him with our pain, our sorrow and with everything we do. The pain will continue, but will soften. And if we do not sometimes know where to go, then there is that Shelter. The Shelter where we can cry, we do not have to stay strong and where we can cry out to God. Indeed, he will end up everything for the best times. Eventually everything will be new, without pain and without sorrow. We may through the tears sing back: I must take refuge in the shelter of the Most High and stay in the shadow of the Almighty. 

God teaches you to fly

Psalm 103: 5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 103 is a hymn of praise to God. It begins: Bless the Lord, O my soul. David, the author of this psalm, magnifies God and expressed it in different images. God does so much for a man, as the first verses are about. Then man is covered and can actually nothing. Man is dust and after a while flowering man perishes again. Life is there again. But fortunately the psalm does not ends with that, because God is still there. He has established His Kingdom, and He is the one who maintains his covenant. God is here for man and that we read it so beautifully in verse 5.

Food, that's what a man needs. Good food, that is. A man can also eat things that are not good for him and then he will die. If something is toxic for instance, we will not survive eating it. But that is not what God gives to His children, He gives it good. Yes, he saturates the mouth with good things. we have always enough when we eat God's goodness. His grace is so powerful that we are satisfied and want nothing more than God.

And then comes the beautiful image of the eagle, that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Here are several available to explain, but the picture that emerges is that of a young eagle learning to fly. The life of a believer is like an eagle that goes on out of the nest and should be in the wide world. So it is with a believer, if you're of Christ you should be in and then the world is like you end up in a free fall, like that young eagle.

But it is precisely to draw a nice comparison. Because when an eagle spreading out its wings, the wind will come underneath and float the beast. Then it will not fall to pieces on the ground, but can fly. And so it is with the children of God.  The Wind, God's Spirit will help His children when they go out into the world. You're not left to your own devices, but the Spirit will help you and teach you to fly. But God is good for you and for me. Bless the Lord, O my soul!

It can sometimes be difficult and there are also eagles falling to pieces, but God will never let us down. He will be like a father to fly with us and catch us when our wings are not sufficiently carried by the wind. He will take care of you when you're in trouble when you're with doubts and when sin attracts you. God is befor you, behind you, below you, above you and around you. He will be there for his children if we believe in Him.

Therefore, it is important to stay close to God and not to fly away from Him. That can hear in many ways! It may even without you noticing. We can sink into the world of money, pornography, sports, other hobbies, church life (without the love of Christ), jealousy, greed and so on. Before we know it we dropped it and we have left God behind us. But know that He is always waiting for you! You can always go to him, even if you do him much pain with all those things that have just been appointed. He is still for you!

Psalm 103: God forgives sin, God heals the disease, God redeemed from destruction, God crowns you with mercy and kindness, God does right, God will not always call them to account, God does not do us according to our sins, God does our transgressions from us. Yes, God is a great God. God teaches us fly! Bless the Lord, O my soul!

My soul doth magnify the Lord

Luke 1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

Mary's hymn begins with the sentence:My soul doth magnify the Lord. At first, this is not special at all and it seems to be not deep. A very ordinary sense and we do not continue to devote so much attention since. Yet the text is deeper than you might think. This first sentence from Maria hymn provides the core of our lives. Because the soul is all in life. But what do these words mean exactly?

The dictionary gives the meaning of the soul: not the physical part from which man lives. It is the immortal part of the human being and every human being has a soul, just as every human being has a body. But Mary sings not primarily about her body but her soul. She magnifies the Lord with her heart and her mind, from her inner she comes to worship the great God who sends the Saviour. Worship can not go deeper than when it comes from the soul. It's your deepest me that no one else can see but only you feel it. And that's where Mary's adoration begins.

From Mary we must also move this to our own lives. Can we say with Mary? Can we magnify the Lord with our soul? Is that the deepest that is living in you? Then the Spirit is in you to work and he represents you for His glory. Your desires are focused on God and your love for God is unstoppable. You are not ashamed of the Gospel and your life is God. You go then with heart and soul to Him, for He is gone for you on the cross. Therefore, our soul is so important and that is to be preserved.

The soul works from inside and passing through working out. Sometimes it just seems people are full of good things and live life as it should be according to the Bible, but when it does not come from the soul, it is all dead. Just read the letter to Sardis in Revelation. The congregation lives exemplary and is not to notice, but deep down inside lacks faith and love for Christ. We see that not always, but God sees. We can try to keep God's commandments, but if it is just the outside then it is dead. We can stand the whole service with our hands in the air in the church and sing the most beautiful songs, but if it does not come from your soul, it is dead. Harsh words, but it's reality.

But when these things do come from our souls, if we surrender to Jesus Christ, and He provides it unto us inside, then God is praised and magnified. We may just as Mary said: My soul doth magnify the Lord, and that is why I sing beautiful songs in church and I fall in worship, and so I try to live according to the commandments of God and to do His will. Then we get to our goal: to honor God in our lives.

Advent looks at Christmas and there's a lot we can do at this time. But let's do it with heart and soul. All services are from experiencing our soul, all the good work for the poor and the sick do from our souls and everything else that is done at this time of the year: do it from your soul and the love of Jesus Christ.

Then we can truly sing: My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! 

God does great things for us

Luke 1:49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

Mary was pregnant with Jesus and goes to visit Elizabeth, her cousin. There happen particular things when they greet each other. The baby in the womb of Elizabeth jumps for joy. John the Baptist was at that time already fulfilled by the Holy Spirit, for otherwise he would not recognize Jesus, and he was not sprung. It is special right, that John recognize its Saviour as a baby in the womb. But with Elizabeth happens something special, because she becomes filled with the Holy Spirit and speak special words of Mary and the baby in her womb. A special meeting of four people, three of them are excited to the child in Mary's womb.

And that makes Mary so full of faith and grace in God that makes her to make a hymn. And in that hymn are the words: for He is the mighty, hath done great things for me and holy is his name. God, for He is mighty has done great things for Mary. But what has he done exactly to Mary?

First of all, Mary is a virgin. God has a fertilized ovum of Mary and so made her mother of His Son. A child growing in her, which is the greatest miracle that can happen to a human being. God made the child in her womb, and will ensure that people will speak Mary blessed. Not just people, but all generations.

In addition, Mary is pregnant with not just a child, but the Son of God. The child growing in her is the chosen Messiah. That Messiah has been expected for centuries and now finally has come and still in the womb of Mary. Her child will bear the punishment of God and save the people from destruction. Would she have known that at the moment? Not everything that would happen of course, but it makes her happy that God cares for her and to her people and so keeps His promise.

So Mary gets herself into the background and puts God in the forefront of her joy. God gets all the glory of Mary adored Him. His name is holy, He is One and Mighty. It is God who keeps His promise He had made to Abraham and then getting to his children. God stands up for the weak people and those who expect it of themself he will do away. God is praised and Maria throws herself down humbly before Him.

What did God do for you and me? Look at your life and then answer this question. God cares for you every day, even every moment of the day. God has made your sins away when you've given your life to Jesus and Jesus Himself has provided salvation. God makes Himself and the world is ready for it later to an end. Everything will soon be new again, and we must part. If you do not yet, then now is the time to repent! Jesus love breaks all, it allows also to break your heart.

We may say with Mary, holy is His Name! We may worship God and give Him our praises. We must make great his name in the world and proclaim his love to all people. Starting with the people close to us. And we must focus our lives on Him and live according to His will. Not our own will first, but do what God wants to be above all. He reigns, the Mighty want to call us His children. Holy is his name!

The sign of hope: Immanuel

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

What a dark time for the people of God, for Judah. The king of Syria is about to attack Judah and divide the country. And king Ahaz, do not know what to do. The dark clouds hang over the country, there is an invasion coming and there's only one thing that can save them: faith in God.

Isaiah is sent to the king and must speak words of hope. The enemy will not beat you, but you have to believe it. You should not be afraid, because they can actually do anything. God can stop them, he will make sure that nothing happened, but then you have to believe that God will do. You even get a sign from God, so that you can be sure that God will keep His Word. But Ahaz thanks for the character, with beautiful words he says he does not want God to the test. And that is precisely not what God wants to hear. Confidence must be in God, but not nice words. Since God pierces through, and if we are not open to God, we keep fooling ourselves. For God knows us through and through.

But Isaiah is the words of God: I will give you a sign. The virgin shall conceive and bear a son and call his name Immanuel. And that sign is the salvation for humanity. Not only for Judah, but for all the nations on earth. But Judah is already occupied by other nations, where the sign will come out. For it will be only 700 years later and this is not only a sign to the king, but for the whole world.

God gave us this sign 2000 years ago. Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary and Jesus is the Son of God and at the same time God himself. Immanuel, God with us. And that sign was not just for the people of that time, but also for you and me a sign. The promise from Isaiah, 700 years before Christ was born, is also a promise for us has been fulfilled. For here we can see how faithful God, He keeps His promises and so has sent a Savior to save us from the great enemy. This character can give us security in times of doubt and this sign we can cling. God is with us and He has fought the battle for us.

The hope that we can draw from this, we read in Revelation 12 and the subsequent chapters. The battle is heavy, the cost is high, but the victory is certain. Child has defeated death, the boy has overcome sin and paid the penalty, and the child will eventually give the death blow to the dragon. Jesus reigns! And nothing and no one can change this simple truth. Evil fights until the end all will be destroyed when Jesus returns. But evil can not win. We stand strong by the power of the blood.

So we may face in life, so we may live in Advent. Yes, we may soon celebrate Christmas, because the child has overcome and will never let us hold out his hand. The fight is tough, sin always draws heavily on us, the devil wants us in his possession, but Christ is on our side. He asks believe in His words, in His work and He is with us, Immanuel!

Solomon and Jesus: between God and the people

1 Kings 8:22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:

Solomon is in the line of Jesus, from the lineage of David. And that's remarkable because Solomon is the son of Bathsheba, the woman who had snatched David from Uriah. This is another unexpected person in the row of the family of Jesus. We might almost say that he was born out of sin, but when we see how God has worked in the life of Solomon, that is a sign of His faithfulness. For Solomon was wise, lived close to God and even stood between God and the people.

For when Solomon as king, God came into the night with him and asked him what he wanted from God. He then asked for wisdom and God has given him. Not only the wisdom to himself, but the wisdom to lead his people and even a wisdom which we today received education. Solomon had a privileged position, he was namely build the temple of God, and as the house of God here on earth shaping. So God did use Salomon to create a beautiful place where God could be present with His people.

At the dedication of the temple made Solomon his place between God and the people clearly. He stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the people, and spread out his hands toward heaven. And Solomon prayed for his people, he worshiped God and asked God for forgiveness. He prayed for the Gentiles, that they might know God and so this became king, a kind priest who interceded and the line was between God and the people.

Jesus was also that line between God and the people, and He came to earth to repair the breach between God and His people. And not only the people of Israel, but for all the nations on earth. Jesus was born of a virgin, other than Solomon. He did not have the burden of sin in itself, but it bore the sin of mankind. Jesus, who came so pure and clean to earth, without a taint of sin, did fulfill the prayer of Solomon, and came to forgive sins.

That is the power of God, He works in ways we do not expect it. His majesty and glory, wisdom and knowledge to go our minds up. Who would have thought that the heir would be born from the marriage between David and Bathsheba and later even the great King, Jesus. Who is this God? He hopeless people turn to his work and even his Son as a humble man sent to earth to die for you and me. We can still only be small and marvel at His goodness.

At Christmas we should stop taking God's great deeds for us humans. And that He works through the unexpected. We may in this Advent open our hearts and lives for this mighty God and together intone a hymn of praise:

Come let us adore that King!

David and Jesus: anointed king and King

1 Samuel 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

The most famous person in the line of Jesus is David. For He is indeed called the Son of David, or also the star of David. Jesus the Messiah, the King who will save the world is a descendant of King David, who delivered Israel from its enemies. Of course there are big differences between them, but there is also a very important similarity: both are anointed.

David had not really thought about when Samuel came to the house of Jesse to anoint the new king of Israel. No, there were bigger and stronger men in the house, and David was just a boy. He was still in the field as the older brothers had to appear before Samuel. And yet God used the unexpected for His plan. David, who is young and ruddy boy, that he is the new king would be against everybody's expectations. And from the time that David was anointed the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and that resulted in a special boy and later a special man, because of God's Spirit David did extraordinary things.

David wrote beautiful psalms about God's goodness and his own sinful life. The Spirit of the Lord gave him these words, and we can still enjoy and comfort from it. But David also became a powerful warlord. He defeated the giant Goliath and won as a boy thus the victory for the people of Israel. Later he led wars and he knew many, if not everything to gain. And that's not all because David was so good or that he was so special. No, because David had his shortcomings, he also had lies and even cheating. In fact, he killed his neighbor because he wanted his wife. But the Spirit of the Lord still did not depart from David and he was allowed to stand strong in the Spirit of the Lord God's power.

Just as unexpectedly as the kingdom of David, is the Kingship of Jesus. Who would have expected now that God's own Son would come to earth? Who would have thought that the King would still be born between animals and should be greeted first by shepherds? That's not worthy a king? A king can not be born and go through life like that? And then even die on a cross, without any kind of struggle against his opponents. But this King was anointed with the Spirit of the Lord and the King fought the big fight like this for his people.

The Spirit of the Lord wants to work in you and in me and show us how great He is. This Advent time shows us that Jesus humbly before us came to earth to serve, and yet the great King. Let us use this time to let us fill in the Spirit of the Lord and to look at the Child in the manger, and later on the cross and God will work in us. And do not think now that it is not for me. Because they thought it also with David and with Jesus, but God works in spite of everything by His Spirit.

When we are anointed by the great King, may we live for His glory. Not just now, not only in the time of Advent and Christmas, but forever. Because that awaits us, a time when we may reign as kings with him! Hallelujah.

Ruth and Jezus: the way of God

Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God

Ruth is the next gentile in the bloodline of Jesus. An extraordinary story of a woman from the land of Moab, which nota bene was a cursed land. And Ruth was divinely placed in the lineage of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. God works in a special way, His way, and that we do not always understand. But if we stand behind it, we see that God's plan eventually works out well.

For what had it not happened to Ruth and Naomi. Both have lost their husbands and life in a famine they shall have given the necessary worries. Naomi decides to return to her country and Ruth goes along. What Naomi does try, Ruth is not to get rid of her thoughts. She follows her mother in law to the land of her people and her God. So Ruth with her, and not only that, she even wants to be part of the people and God. Yes, the living God, the God of Israel, which wants Ruth as her God.

And so God works in the lives of gentils. He calls and gives everyone the opportunity to turn to Him. Even Orpah had that chance, but turned around and went back to her own country and their own gods. But Ruth listened to the voice of God and want to follow Him. And Ruth does with conviction as we read in Chapter 3, when Ruth remains they are not seduced him at the feet of Boaz, but behaves chaste. This reveals the clear will of Ruth, to live and to listen to Gods voice and to the commandments of God.

That obedience we see in God's own Son, Jesus. He was in heaven on His throne, and God gave him the command to carry the punishment for the people. Jesus had to go to the earth and there He would be received as a stranger. He would get even hatred and opposition, but that did not withhold Jesus to fulfill His mission. He came as King, but was born in a stable and laid in a manger. But Jesus was obedient and accomplished his task. Likewise, Jesus shows that He obeyed God and what do we do?

Because we may like Ruth are grafted to the stump of God's covenant people. Jesus came to earth to make this possible and will work through His Gospel in all of us. So we may go the way that God has for us. That is, first of all to become His child and then to live for Him. That we may be doing this Advent. Not only fun, with lights and candles, but rather with God! Advent lives towards the feast of Light and then let us relieve our hearts so that we may live to His honor and glory.

We are sometimes as misfits known here on earth, because anyone who follows God and his Son Jesus. But we have a future, a future in the light of the Christmas Child will shine around us as we will soon be in heaven. We must prepare ourselves for it and cling to the words of Ruth: thy people shall be my people and your God be my God. Let's get up and go in the ways of God, enlighten the world through the birth of the Light! 

Rahab and Jesus saved from death, saved by Him

Joshua 6:17 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

Whole city in ruins, there is almost nothing left of the great city of Jericho. And all that is left, shall be burned. Everything, except for Rahab and her house. This is in short the story of Rahab the whore. She hid the spies and the Israelites escape, and now she is rescued himself from death. Rahab believed the praises of the God of the Israelites, and that has prompted her to hide the spies. What an act of faith by risking their lives to help these men escape.

Rahab was then incorporated into the people of Israel, the people of God. But that's not all, she's even in the line of Christ. Rahab comes from the Savior. She has thus been given a special place of God by not only join with the people, but also to use her in His plan of salvation of the world. Rahab, the whore from Jericho, believes in God and is preserved. That's a special story!

This shows who God is and who He will be for us. God loves mankind, too sweet to die. And He offers His salvation to every human being on. Those who believe in His Son, who will be saved. It does not matter if you're a whore or a murderer, God's love is for every human being. Because whether you are a murderer or a liar, everyone needs the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ. He opened and wants to give you grace the road. You take it? Like Rahab?

God protects those who believe in Him. Rahab was saved as her home and she was allowed to live, if God will also save you and me. He wants to add even provided us with His people and that is a privilege. How do you deal with that right? Keep your life as you did before? For God requires a life for him after receiving grace. Grace is given to us, but requires a holy life. You live for Him?

God works through people, he also Rahab used for His master plan for the world.God wants to use us in His Kingdom. We may be proclaimers of the good news and tell the people around us from His love. God can use us to save someone else, as he turned on Rahab to save mankind. God can not do that without us? Yes, of course, but he wants to enable people to proclaim His Word and to radiate His love in the world.

In time for Christmas, in this dark time, we may serve Him to the people around us to see. Who needs you in this world? Who are you the Rahab, she offers a helping hand? We magnify God and we worship Jesus with our lives. He came as a stranger to the earth, like Rahab a stranger came to Israel to save us. That is a contradiction, because a stranger he came to earth who created himself. But out of love for his Father and out of love for us, He came.

Leave it as Advent in our hearts and lives. Rahab points us to Christ, and He shows us that we can be His. 

Isaac and Jesus: sacrifice

Genesis 22: 8 nd Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

An immense task for Abraham. Isaac his son, he had to sacrifice to God. Together they went on their way, and Abraham has all this time been silent about it to his son.Isaac absolutely did not know he would be sacrificed and that his father had instructions to sacrifice Isaac and use it as a burnt offering. They come close to Mount Moriah, they let the servants behind and together they go on. And then comes the question of Isaac: Father, what are we going to sacrifice? And Abraham answers in faith that God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering.

Isaac might have smelled a rat, but as we read on, we still see that he is on the altar. How is it possible? Isaac let himself lay on the altar by Abraham and we read nothing about a fight. He has accepted his fate and let his father take its course.In obedience to his father, but especially to God. Abraham was going to sacrifice his son testifies obedience, but Isaac let himself sacrifice testifies as much obedience to God. How obedient are we to God? Do you ever ask yourself that?

But God gives outcome, because ultimately holds God to Abraham. The Lord Angel calls him a halt. You do not have to do this, Abraham, Isaac, need not be sacrificed. Your son will live, because I have a plan with your seed. Isaac must live, because another sacrifice must be done and will be in you posterity emerge and that Posterity will all nations be a blessing. And so they receive a ram from God which was sacrificed in place of Isaac. Fortunately, because you don't sacrifice your own son, don't you?

This did not have to happen with Isaac, had to do with Jesus. The sacrifice of His life had to be accommodated. Abraham did not have to sacrifice, but God did sacrificed His Son. Jesus gave Himself as sacrifice in obedience. That was definitely not easy, we see history as He speaks with His Father in Gethsemane. He feels the deep fear of sacrifice, so much so that Jesus sweat blood. But he bears the punishment and mercy brings so forth for all nations. The promise of Genesis 22:18 is fulfilled here.

That's where we are permitted to think in Advent. Jesus came down from heaven to make that sacrifice. The Father sent His Son not in a palace but in a stable. Not in a four poster bed, but in a manger. And he eventually had to surrender His Son into the hands of death. The cup was completely empty, the punishment was carried into hell. That is God's love which we can draw from.

A grateful Advent, the coming weeks may be for us. A look to the celebration of Christmas, that the light came into the world. But over the celebration of the Light wins over the darkness and eventually look at life with the Light! If we so live Advent and living towards Christmas, the Spirit will fill us and we will be blessed.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice! Thank you for the perfect sacrifice that you have brought. Without your sacrifice, life was meaningless, but now we drove through the sacrifice to live. For you have given life. Your Name be praised forever! 

Adam and Christ: the first man vs. the perfect Man

Genesis 2: 7  And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

Adam is the first man on earth and therefore also the first in the family of Jesus Christ. Advent is  time again and the next time I want to investigate people who have a place in the lineage of Jesus. Today, the first man, Adam.

There was only a little dust on the earth, between the beautiful creation of God.And that was not just a layer of dust, but it was dust from which God would create man. God formed man of the dust of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. Man here receives life from God. Adam was the first human being that was created and shaped by God and  God breathes the breath of life in him.Man is totally dependent on God!

But it also shows God's greatness and majesty that He formed man out of nothing and gives it breath. Why would God do this? That you read this in the verses before: there was no field crop because it had not rained yet at the earth. But God had dampened the ground, and now it was time for the man to go to work in God's plan. The ground had to be processed, which was the primary duty of man. God took care of everything and the only thing man had to do was take care of His creation. Everything is prepared for man. So man will be thankful to God, right?

But later in it goes wrong. Satan has turned against God in heaven and is now trying the crown of creation to win over. But man stands on God's side, you will think.God who gave him life, so he can not rebel against God? And yet the unreal happens. Man finds himself more important than God and wanted to be equal to Him and turns against his Maker. What will God be sad, what this will do a pain in the Creator. His creation will now be lost, they will have to die the death. That is the punishment that God has put on sin and now the man make that fatal mistake. And we are all children of Adam, all infected with the same virus: sin. All doomed, or not?

For God does not ignite in anger when man falls into sin, but He shows His majesty and His perfect love for man. He promises to direct a Savior who will win the battle of evil and will even conquer death. There is hope for mankind after Adam's sin: the Savior!

And if we make a leap in history, we stand next to an empty grave. Jesus Christ has conquered sin and death! He has again paved the way to God. The second Adam, the first man without sin has fulfilled the righteousness of God and bore the punishment. And that is not for himself, but for every person who believes in Him. As every human is a sinner from the moment Adam sinned, so is now every man who gives his life to the second Adam again be reconciled to God. Now that's gospel.

And we must also live in the knowledge that we are saved. Jesus has washed away your sins and paid for it. We still have our sins, that virus will pass away when we die. But it is no more deadly virus, because Christ has taken care of. Then we can only be grateful and fall on our knees and worship Him, that great Redeemer!The Father created the first man, but gave the perfect Man as reconciliation. 

God's peace changes persons

1 Samuel 1:18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

What a history of Hanna. She was the wife of Elkanah, but she was not alone.Namely Elkanah had another wife, Peninnah. Peninnah did have children, but Hannah had still not given birth at Elkana. And that brought an uncomfortable situation with them. It was clear that getting children was so important for a  woman, that if that failed, the man could take another woman. And Peninnah did have children and she teased Hannah with it. Every day Hannah was facing her childlessness.

And Hanna always went deeper into despondency, in perhaps depression. She wanted so badly to have children with her husband, and yet could not. God had not given her children so far. Why God did that? That's not for us to explain. God draws His own plan with men and has a specific task for everyone. So God has a plan with Hannah and not just a plan, because it would change Hanna.

Because God comes to Hanna. When Hanna enters the tabernacle to pray and lay down her grief to God, first Eli comes to her. He first thinks she is drunk, because she is only moving her lips. But it is the intense grief of Hanna that she dough here before the Lord. And when she explains this to Eli, he understands her completely. And he speaks for God to Hannah: Go in peace, and He will give you the God of Israel what you have asked him. And we can of course suggest a child.

After these words, after the words of peace from God and His promise to answer her prayer, Hannah is not the same anymore. Her depressive behavior is no longer present, because she has God's peace and His promise. God does not look at the side how this plays out. No, He intervenes and Hanna first blesses with His peace. Wonderful what God can do in the life of a human, and when God involves we will change our lives. We will leave behind our old life and radiate Him in our surroundings.

Did you receive God's peace? Maybe you've never had. Then you may like Hannah to Him and pour out your heart before Him. All your problems you can tell Him. If your sins you shall lay before Him, and He will remove them. No, it does not mean that you will go through further carefree life, but you will be filled with His peace. And that makes you a different person.One who has been touched by God, then you are no longer as before.

Gods children receive His peace every day and are no longer as before. You can live out his love, saved by the blood of Christ. And people can see around us, like Hanna.We should reflect on our her, learn like her to be filled by God. You will conflict with your old life, but in that battle, God is on your side. He is the Living Water, the source of all good. Let Him fill you with His peace! 

filled by grace

Matthew 14:20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

What could be found in Jesus? Why would you belong to Jesus? There is an answer: you will be filled by Him. Jesus fulfills the needs of every person.That's not always easy to explain when you try, but on the basis of this text, we want to try that. For in Jesus is indeed to find satiety, He has everything a person needs. And if we do once tast the grace, we will be filled but never satisfied.

It is the miraculous feeding where our text is about. Jesus preached for the people, fivethousand men and also women and children. He told them about himself, about God and the kingdom of God. And he healed their sick. The people listened for hours and it is time to eat. But they are too far from the shops to buy food and eat only food is five loaves and two fish. And Jesus takes the food by him, he asks God to bless it and breaking it into pieces. And there is enough bread for everyone. There even remains bread over twelve baskets full. And the fish was not to get in, because that was all been eating. 

This is typical of Jesus. He knows what people need and he gives them. It's late, they should eat and Jesus gives them to eat. He gives everyone enough, nobody can say that they are hungry, because there is even bread left. The empty bellies of the people are now filled with the bread that Jesus gave them and that is blessed by God. And so Jesus wants to provide with food for the people, if he thinks that is so important, then he will certainly plentiful handing spiritually.

Because Jesus has something more important to give: His grace. Every man needs grace, every human being has, as it were an empty stomach. And Jesus comes to us and offers us His grace. We don't need to do something, because he did it. He gives the grace that will satisfy our spiritual emptiness. And there's plenty for everyone, for so God loved the world. Not just a few people, but everyone. God loves everyone and offers everyone His grace. That you may be saved and saturated by Him. Then you will be satisfied, your spiritual void is filled and every tasting of His grace. You will never want anything else.

Jesus fills us every day. He does this through His Word, which He speaks to us and His love and mercy rich offering for sinners and working out. But he does it with people around you, you can support and help people who are there for you. It is through spiritual music, which you are to pure worship and He fills your heart with the lyrics about Him. It may by nature, which God's omnipotence and majesty is shown. Yes, Jesus fills us every day. Do you see it? Let you satisfy Him?

The filling by His grace is what changes people. Because if we experience His love and see His greatness and work on us, we can only flooding of him. Praise than His great name and worship Jesus!

Christ confess your name before the Father

Revelation 3: 5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.

Have you ever thought about what confession really means? We talk often about: doing confession of your faith, confess your sins, you are a professing Christian. But you know what that means? Allow you ever think about what that means? When we confess that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world, then we get there openly about it. You are for Christ, you are for God and you let the people around you know it. Did you know that Christ openly confess his children?

Christ confesses the names of all who are in Him beofre the Father and His angels. He sits at God's right hand and before the angels and says, yes, he or she is mine. I died for those who deserve salvation in God and the protection of the angels. Christ is not ashamed of us, His children. Even though they do sin and do things that they only provoke anger at God. Jesus is not ashamed and does not turn away his head, but takes it for his children to the Father. Christ says, as it were, to God, my blood has flowed for him or her, because the punishment is carried along. You can have love for him or her, not in anger.

What a mighty Savior we have then, right? What a loving Saviour He is. His work has not stopped after He ascended into heaven, but He protects us before God. He confesses our names and that's a good thing. Jesus may we serve, we should focus our lives on Him and be led by His Spirit. We must confess Jesus at all times and not be ashamed before Him. For He Himself also ashamed not for us.Will you confess Jesus openly?

For in the letter to the church of Sardis in Revelation 3: 1-6, are also warnings.Faith is not living there. A large part of the congregation do well good works, but faith is dead. There is a lot of work within the community, many people are committed, but there is no personal relationship with Christ. And the two have to go together, otherwise the works are useless. That is a warning to our chruches, we must not only work but also maintain our relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the Source of life through the church and that we can connect to our own lives. We need relationship with Christ to have not stained our clothes. How is your relationship with him?

Because for those who confess His name and do not stain their clothes, is for them a glorious future. They will receive white clothes and walking with Jesus.Their name will certainly not be blotted out of the book of life. Rather, Christ will confess them before the Father. And we can live out of that. From comforting, that prospect and that faith. Jesus Christ, the Son of the Lord God Almighty, sitting at God's right hand and confess the names of those who believe in Him and serve Him.Glorious!

God judges in righteousness

Psalm 98: 8 and 9 Let the rivers clap their hands, the mountains shout for joy together before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples judge fairly.

You get what you deserve. So is it always? So there is still talk with us? Last I heard someone say it: the nation gets the leadership it deserves. That was in response to the victory of Trump in the presidential election. How it works indeed with our people. Someone who does something against the law, will receive punishment. And we can of course not outside too. But is it to say, you get what you deserve?

When God made man gets what he deserves. Man gets penalty for sin and God's punishment is harsh. You may not live in the Garden of Eden. Even worse is that men will have to die and can not enter heaven. That's a hefty penalty and it is indeed something worthy of man. Who are we to question God's wisdom? This is the righteousness of God, he does justice to man. You will not hear me? Then you will not either. God's judgment will be done in righteousness.

But with God plays something, namely, His great love for man. God does not want man to perish, even though the man has earned this. God does not want you and I lost, because He loves us. And that is why God has given His Son, because He does not want us to be lost. He can not condone sin, but He hath given His Son to pay the penalty. And so God can judge in righteousness, because the punishment is carried.

If you are Christ, your punishment so worn. And then God's judgment will soon be in righteousness: acquittal! The blood has been shed for you and therefore you are covered sins. Therefore God can judge in righteousness, and you still acquit.There is no condemnation for those we read in the Bible and we must cling to Christ. You and I, when we stand before the judgment seat of God as a little puny humans, it will sound right: child, come with me forever. Step into the eternal joy and enjoy all the good that I am and will give you.

But it also means something for you and me here on earth. Asked justice is, we must do justice to the people around us. That law is not only the right of our society, but more important is the Kingdom of God right. We must look after the poor and widows, care for the sick and those who are alone. We can not just keep to ourselves our money, but also need to distribute. But that right also includes honesty, being faithful to your husband or wife and your children and the people around you are happy with what you have and not always but more want to live in more luxury.

When we know God's righteousness, we must handing in the world. First of all, very close to us, sometimes very far away. Then Christ will shine in this dark world, because then we will give light as the stars. One star does not make a lot of light, but if we have many stars, we will shine. Not our own light but reflect the light of Christ. That light power has the blood of Calvary, will be many to salvation. 

rend your heart unto the merciful God

Joel 2:13 And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lordyour God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil.

If you read Joel 2, you almost get scared inside. The day of the Lord is coming, which is indicated in this section. And before that day comes, must flee all the enemies of God, they will not know where to hide. There will be an immense fire over the earth and destroy everything, and there will be a total chaos. This, we can put next to Revelations, because such events are also described in Revelations. So it's not just about that time, but today is also reality. This warning also counts now.

But then in verse 12 sounds suddenly the call to conversion and is personally made in verse 13. Rend your hearts and not your clothes. How many people we see do not metaphorically rend their clothes. They say they belong to God, but live totally not that way. Other people live according to Biblical law, but is all for the outside and not by heart. They do not repent of their sins, they do not surrender to Christ.This is a wake up call! Convert your heart, we all have to put ourselves to the light of the Bible is my repentance real? Do I sorrow of my sins? Do I really belong to Jesus?

Repent unto the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, patient and rich in mercy. Here we are told that it is not a certain God, but your God. He is your God, he knows you since childhood and he has given you as a child his blessing. And all the while, until now, he did not break His promise. It is your God! And you must repent of your wrong things, repent of your inner sins, and not continue in sin. Christ has gone for those sins on the cross, but he is not worth that we continue to sin. He wants us to clean life.

And God will always take us in grace when we repent. For He is merciful and patient. He knows us and knows how we people are. God is patient with us, and that means that he knows us. He punishes us not directly for the sin, but give us time to repent. He is rich in mercy. His love goes so far that even His Son on the cross was to die for sin. To bear the punishment of the people and to wash them clean in this way from all unrighteousness. And as God is merciful, because we have not earned grace. It's all for nothing, all out of love and it all comes only from His side.

Then you and I must confess: I bow down before God and worship Him. I confess not only with my tongue that He is the Lord, but I also want to convert my heart. Lord, please wash me completely and let me focus on Thee. My eyes are often obscured, so I do not always see you. But when you call me in this way to draw my eye unto you, then this shows again Your inexhaustible source of love.

Make me pure for you, as pure gold and pure silver! 

The treasure of faith in God

Isaiah 33: 6 And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure.

The times of Isaiah are very recognizable. There are few people loyal to God and every human being lives for himself. Some people are still placed neatly sacrifices still get into the service of God, but ultimately without content. And the rest of the people of God loose. There are parallels to our time. Many people live their own lives and want nothing to do with God. Whether we live in the west and prosperity is so important, whether one lives in oriental countries, for example, communism is most important. God is not thought of, and he is not served.

Allow you ever think about that? Do you also look around you and you only see people live without God? Maybe some people who still go to church, but otherwise nothing to do with God? But even people who are completely separate from God? It makes me scared sometimes, because what should now become of our country? What will all happen in the coming years and at what time will our children be raised? Will there also be persecution against Christians?

But precisely then we must cling to the words of Isaiah. He will be the stability of thy times, abundance of salvation, wisdom and knowledge. Yes, that is our strength and that's where we legitimately expect. God is our strength, since he has everything under control! Whatever happens, he will not let others pull us away from Him. He is also our wealth of salvation, wisdom and knowledge. God gives results in dark times and saves us from sin. He gives us wisdom so that we can remain standing and knowledge so let us be strong. God gives Himself to you and me.

For he still says something: the fear of the Lord will be a treasure. If we believe in God and live according to His will, the fear of the Lord, we are rich. Maybe not on the outside and in earthly things, but we're rich inside. We have the most precious thing there is. God wants to dwell in us and works in us, and we receive His grace, by which we are rich.

Then we can look around us and become anxious. We may wonder at what time our children will live and whether there are still thought to God. We can see a dark time to get where we do not exactly know how to handle it. But precisely that is why we read today these words from Isaiah, and take the next mission.

Pray for our children so that they may receive the power of Christ to stand strong in this world. Pray for the Church of God so that the Holy Spirit can continue doing his work by proclaiming the Word. Pray for the government, so that they may see that without God it has no future. Pray for the unbelievers, so that their eyes may be opened and that they can see who Jesus Christ wants to be for them.

So we get an encouragement, but also an assignment from Isaiah. And thanks to God, that He gave His light still shines in our hearts and in the world. Let us worship Him for His almightiness and His saving love. He is worthy to be served by you and me! To him be the glory and power for ever.