This year, I’m still pondering my recent study of Galatians. While we celebrate Jesus’s birth at Christmas, we cannot separate it from the reason he came nor his promises for the future. Join me here as I look at each of the traditional Advent themes—HOPE, PEACE, JOY, and LOVE—found in Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Today we start with HOPE.
Righteousness
The Servant, Our Savior and Example
As I write this, Easter is just around the corner. Since I gave my life to Jesus some 50 plus years ago I struggle at times to revel in my Savior and how he saved me. This year, Isaiah is helping me rekindle that wonder while also showing me how to live.
Righteousness and Justice in Isaiah
A major theme in Isaiah's message is righteousness and justice. These concepts bear studying because they mean different things to Isaiah than they do to us in the western, modern world. Furthermore, our Christian subculture associates righteousness with personal morality and justice with social political action. This is not how the Bible portrays them.
You Are Invited to God’s Banquet
Isaiah foresees a great feast that all are invited to. This banquet (also called the marriage supper of the Lamb) is the glorious future celebration of all who are in the kingdom of God. There we will commemorate the final defeat of his enemies, but also the unifying (“marrying”) of Christ with his church (“his bride”).
Obey Because, Not So That
I first studied Isaiah in high school. I can’t remember what it was about the prophet that I loved, but this class instilled in me a love for this book of the Bible. Now I am starting a new walk through with the ladies in my church. I am older. I am in a new season of my life. I have continued to grow, change, and learn new things and Isaiah is striking me in new ways. Uncomfortable ways. I hit my first snag in chapter one.
Matthew’s Woes: How Terrible It Will Be For You
Jesus confronts the religious leaders on their hypocrisy with eight divine indictments, calling them pretenders, frauds, play-actors, and cold-blooded snakes.
Pondered Treasures 