Love Prophesied

In these last two days of our advent study, we’ll focus on the advent of love. We’re not talking fluffy, romantic love; we’re talking about the sacrificial, never-ending, and incomparable love of God to send His only son, who was fully God and fully man, in the form of an innocent, helpless babe. There’s no love like the love of our Father, and it began all the way back in Genesis when He created mankind.

All throughout the Bible, we see God pursuing His people in love, creating mankind and then setting clear boundaries to allow us to stay in relationship with Him. When those boundaries are broken and sin enters the world, He makes a way, whether that be by creating a promised land for His people, providing a temple, prophets, kings, sacrifices, entering into covenants, or winning battle after battle. Even in our constant failures and faithlessness, God loves His people so much that He provides the perfect sacrifice through Jesus. We were never going to set things right on our own, and we needed Jesus to come and intercede for our transgressions. He knew no sin, but became sin on our behalf (Romans 5:8).

Read Isaiah 53:1-12, but let’s focus on this part first,

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

We see the coming of Jesus foretold all throughout the Old Testament. The plan God had from the beginning is undeniable, and any worldly comparison of God’s love is a counterfeit. He defined it through His Word, and nothing comes close to His standard. During this advent of love, we hope that you see beautiful pictures of God’s love for you in every part of your life as you celebrate Christmas. If you find yourself in a lost place, we hope you lift your eyes to Him and are reminded of the great love that is found only in Jesus.

“‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,”says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10