For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
—Isaiah 57:15 (KJV)
As many of us leave our season of Thanksgiving and transition into the season of Advent, we remember our most significant reason for giving thanks: Jesus' coming as God's incarnation in human flesh. After all, Advent means "the coming," and in particular, the coming of God to earth in Jesus. God loved us so much that he refused to be God far from us, dwelling only in a high and holy place. He chose to come near us and be one of us in Jesus. God is holy and beyond us (Isaiah 6:1-6). Yet, he became one of us in Jesus because of his mercy and grace (Isaiah 57:15). In Jesus, God surrendered his divine privileges and humbled himself so we could see both God's grace and our path to him in his greatness as a servant (Philippians 2:5-11).
Loving Father, thank you for loving us so much that you joined us in our mortality through Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for living among us and showing us what God-like living is. Thank you for knowing our struggle with living in human flesh in a broken world. Thank you for defeating death and giving us life with you forever. Because of Jesus, Father, we will forever want you to know our thanks and praise! Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
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—Isaiah 57:15 (KJV)
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
As many of us leave our season of Thanksgiving and transition into the season of Advent, we remember our most significant reason for giving thanks: Jesus' coming as God's incarnation in human flesh. After all, Advent means "the coming," and in particular, the coming of God to earth in Jesus. God loved us so much that he refused to be God far from us, dwelling only in a high and holy place. He chose to come near us and be one of us in Jesus. God is holy and beyond us (Isaiah 6:1-6). Yet, he became one of us in Jesus because of his mercy and grace (Isaiah 57:15). In Jesus, God surrendered his divine privileges and humbled himself so we could see both God's grace and our path to him in his greatness as a servant (Philippians 2:5-11).
My Prayer...
Loving Father, thank you for loving us so much that you joined us in our mortality through Jesus. Thank you, Jesus, for living among us and showing us what God-like living is. Thank you for knowing our struggle with living in human flesh in a broken world. Thank you for defeating death and giving us life with you forever. Because of Jesus, Father, we will forever want you to know our thanks and praise! Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
Continue reading...
