Merry Christmas! From Pastor Marvin Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. Luke 2:25 Everybody is waiting for something. What are you waiting for - for the perfect gift, for employment, for marriage, for family peace, for forgiveness, for a favorable medical diagnosis, to have a baby, or deliverance from an addiction? Imagine having to wait centuries for the fulfillment of a promise, but there was no evidence that the promise would be fulfilled. This was spiritual and emotional climate during the time Jesus was born. People were waiting for God to fulfill the promise of restoration through Messiah, but the political, social and spiritual darkness concealed any evidence that God would actually keep his promise. Therefore, many people became weary of being righteous. Yet, there was a man who continued to wait and trust in God’s promise, and God fulfilled his promise to him. Before he died, Simeon held in his arms the salvation for all people - Jesus. Jesus was the consolation for God’s people, bringing the comfort of a restored and renewed relationship with God. We no longer have to wait for Jesus, the Messiah. He was born, lived, and died so that we can be restored to God. However, as followers of Jesus, sometimes we find ourselves in a waiting season. This Christmas season, the Holy Spirit wants us to hear afresh the words with which Isaiah encouraged God’s war-torn and waiting weary people: “But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles. They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind. (Isaiah 40:31, The Message) Waiting on God is worth the wait. On behalf of my family and the entire leadership at Trinity, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas. I thank God for your growing love for Jesus and his people. I absolutely love being your pastor, and I look forward to learning how to love you more and lead you better.
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 13:10:00 +0000