12/02/2024
DAY 1 Advent Devotional
December 1
Jeremiah 33:14 (ESV) Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
At this time in history, Israel and Judah were split into two nations. They had drifted from God and from one another. They were once again in captivity, enslaved by another nation. They were no longer the great nation whom other nations feared from only hearing rumors of them. They were a house divided and in bo***ge but worse still, they were separated from God.
Does this sound familiar? We still see this today in our own country and in our own relationships with God and with others. The schemes of the enemy have not changed. Divide and conquer. The enemy doesn’t change, but thankfully, neither does God. He promised Jeremiah reconciliation for the house of Judah and the house of Israel.
Jeremiah 33:15-17 (ESV) In those days and at that time, I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness. ’For thus says the Lord: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel”
God sent His only son, Jesus, to be the promise He made to Jeremiah. Jesus came into this world to redeem us and reconcile us back to God. He did not come with fanfare as the King of Kings should but in a lowly manger so that any who would believe in Him would be saved. He bridged the gap that we could not cross. He became our only hope to have the right relationship with God.
Jesus is the righteous Branch of David. When Jesus returns, He will be the one who will sit on the throne of the house of Israel forever, thus fulfilling the promise God made to Jeremiah.
This advent season, let us remember the hope that we have in Jesus. He is the hope for our present and for our future.
APRIL NEWBELL