Tag: Advent

Reason for Advent – Part 2

Featured ~ Sowmya Gali

Jeremiah 31: 33, 34

“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God. And they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

Another important reason about Advent is to remember the new covenant that God made with Israelites (by faith, Gentiles as well): a new covenant that God took the initiative to be in a personal relationship with each and every one of us. No longer are His laws written on stones but on the hearts of His people. By surrendering to Him completely, He, by His Holy Spirit, stirs in us the desire to obey Him. After experiencing the new birth in Christ, who is at the very heart of this grand scheme, we will obtain a chance to make new beginnings by establishing a permanent and personal relationship with our Maker.

This born-again experience is what brings us new hope and we await with eagerness for that day when we will be forever united with our loving Savior in eternity. This experience gives as a new heart which is filled by a new Spirit from God. This Spirit will motivate us to draw closer to Jesus, know about our loving Father more intimately and also guide us to carefully keep His laws. Not grudgingly, but gladly. Jesus came to our sinful world as a humble and flawless babe, poured out His precious blood to cleanse us, conquered sin and death, raised on the third day, ascended to heaven, seated now at the right hand of our Father in Heaven, and interceding on our behalf. Therefore, through Christ our restoration with our Heavenly Father has been complete.

During this Advent season, as we remember these wonderful promises God made for a renewal of our relationship with Him, we are blessed to further know that as long as we are relying on Him, remembering Him and the promises He made, then we no longer have to worry about anything in this world but wholly trust Him for a prosperous life on this earth and beyond. 

Ezekiel 36: 26-29

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Then you will live in the land I gave your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you.

My sincere prayer for us this Christmas season and beyond is that Jesus would bring us and our families that blessed hope of complete restoration: restoration of relationship with God as well as everything restored to us that which we have lost so that we will never experience lack and our storehouses will be plentiful. Merry Christmas!

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Reason for Epiphany

~ Sowmya Gali

Isaiah 9: 6-7

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Matthew 2: 11

On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

Epiphany (Epiphainein in Greek) means to reveal, illuminate, discovery resulting in joy, wonder and awe. It is observed on the 12th night after Christmas which happens to fall on January 6th. Orthodox, Anglican, Catholic and other liturgical churches observe this holiday. However, Epiphany celebration is not just associated with Christ’s birth but other events in His life. Most churches associate the Magi’s visit as a celebration of Epiphany as this is the first time that Christ is revealed as Lord and King to the Gentiles. The three wise men were the first Gentiles who recognized Christ’s divinity. Other churches also celebrate Epiphany in observance of Christ’s baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. He was revealed as the Son of God. Some others commemorate Epiphany in remembrance of Christ’s first miracle of turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. He was revealed to the Israelites as a miracle working God.

Church today celebrates Epiphany to remind themselves of their responsibility to reveal Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior, atonement for the sins of mankind. This is a time of fellowship and prayer with the church body. This blessed season in the church calendar ends when Lent begins. The Sunday before Ash Wednesday is observed as Transfiguration Sunday.

Whatever be the reason for Epiphany, we have every reason to celebrate the birth and life of Jesus Christ. He has called us to a holy life. The grace given to us through Jesus Christ conceived before the beginning of time, has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Redeemer, Restorer, King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ. He who has conquered death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel has commissioned us to spread the Word so many may enter in. Let us do our part in this celebration of Epiphany by revealing the Savior of the world to the lost world. May God be with you as you spread the truth.