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WELCOMING LOVE
(Isaiah 11:1-10—Preacher: Ps Paw Liang)

The people of Judah was facing leadership crisis. The King from the line of David had walked out from God’s way. They began to follow the way of the surrounding nation. Yet, Isaiah affirmed them that God would keep His  promise.  The Messiah will come from the line of David (the stem of Jesse vv1,10). God’s plan will not be distorted by human depravity.

The prophecy will be fulfilled in the last day, yet the reign of the King has started with the first coming of Jesus Christ. Likewise, eternity is not started at the end time, but our life will continue into eternity where God will make everything perfect for us.

Advent reminds us that  we need to full anticipation of the second  coming of Jesus Christ. The question is how do we prepare our selves to welcome Him? 

First, turn or return to His love. Once we accept Jesus Christ, His Spirit is within us, remains in our soul. As we prepare room for Jesus, let the Spirit lead us to repentance—to turn away from sins. As the presence of His Spirit, Christ will become more and more ‘real’ for us—we have the assurance that He has forgiven and redeemed us (Eph 2:9-10). 

Second, as the Spirit leads, I will seek His way and not my way: What God want me to do or to be? What’s His will for me, my church, for the world? We long to hear what God has to say and His word becomes vital for our life. His Word will give me strength and encouragement. His word will direct my steps. Reading Bible becomes a need and a pleasure, a delight for our soul. 

Third, we become more and more aware that we need His grace and mercy. Sin and evil will not just get away once we have Christ in us. We are aware that with our own strength we find it difficult even to conquer our own flesh / humanity, we need God’s grace and mercy.

When we begin to let the Spirit of Christ begin to guide and reign in us, He will instill the Spirit of Christ... the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, he Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord (v2).

When the love and grace of Christ live and work in our life, we will not be to focus on ourselves. Rather we will fix our eyes on God. When ‘the self’ is no longer in the centre, we will not take ourselves too highly and important, at such sharing God’s love and living at peace with each other will become easier.

As the Spirit of Christ is working in us, He will lead us towards the picture of shalom (perfect peace and harmony) in Isa 11:2-9—The wolf will live with the lamb—we then will have a ‘foretaste’ of heaven. The longer we walk with Christ, the love of Christ in us will grow consequently the peace and harmony will increase in parallel. 

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