Prepare Your Heart for AdventSample

The mystery of salvation is revealed! by  Rev. Patrick Feldhus In a few days, you will celebrate the greatest gift that God the Father has given his fallen world. You might get the impression that it was a shock and surprise to hear that Jesus was finally in the world. Perhaps Jesus’s entry into the world was even a bit mysterious. However, God gave plenty of clues pertaining to the mystery. 1. Immediately after the first sin, God promised Adam and Eve, “I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel.” (Genesis 3:15) 2. God gave the clue to be on the lookout for a child from the seed of a woman. Normally, children come from the seed of a man, but not so with this special child. Later, God provided another clue: “Therefore the Lord himself will give a sign for all of you. Look! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and name him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) 3. God even told his people where the virgin would give birth to the one who would crush the serpent’s head. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, from you, will go out the one who will be the ruler for me in Israel. His goings forth are from the beginning, from the days of eternity.” (Micah 5:2) God gave clues to point people to the Savior who was born to rescue all people of every nation from sin and death. Paul made it clear that God intends to reveal this mystery to all people. All we need is God’s word, which reveals the truth to us—a truth that releases us from the guilt and shame that wells up inside of each of us. This is the gospel that is now available to everyone. As we celebrate Jesus’s being revealed as a baby in Bethlehem, let us not lose sight of the reason why he came. He came to give up his life as a ransom for all of our sins and to give us eternal life. It is no longer a mystery. The clues were given and fulfilled! Let us ever cling to God’s word, which strengthens our faith in the Christ who crushed the serpent’s head under his foot. Let us hold tight to the word of God, which helps us to be prepared for Christ to return triumphantly and to bring us into his eternal kingdom! Prayer: Dear Gracious Father, thank you for fulfilling your promise to send your Son to be our Savior. Help us stay connected to your word every day so that our faith may increase as we wait for Jesus to return! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.