How to Be His People Between His Advents, REFRAMED

Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Angels, from the Realms of Glory
By: James Montgomery, 1771-1854 (1816)

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We continue our journey beyond Christmas and the celebration of the birth of our Savior.  This week we consider our response to the King in the Manger, the Lamb on the Throne. We are His people between His two advents, and certain pursuits should mark our lives.  Let’s tune our hearts.

First Advent

Advent simply means “coming”.  Jesus came that first time as the King in the manger.  God with us, Emmanuel, explicitly the One who would save us from our sins.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.  Luke 2:7 ESV

I fear the significance of it gets lost on us despite our familiarity with this greatest of stories.  Let me ask a simple series of questions.  How did you celebrate His first advent this most excellent of arrivals this past season?  What things did you do individually or with others that put the focus squarely on Jesus?  Now compare how much time and effort you spent preparing for and engaging in those, as opposed to all the other holiday festivities.  Ouch!  Were they even, or maybe, possibly overshadowed a bit by the general busyness of the season that had little to do with Jesus?

Consider Your Response

Now is the time to determine what changes you will make next Christmas so that your celebration of His first advent points to the hope that He will indeed come again, at His second, when He comes not as the King in the manger but the Lamb on the Throne.

But before you get upset with me, let me remind you both are important. Focus on His arrival and the joy of the season that revolves around it.  We simply must be diligent in our revelry so as not to loose Jesus while we are celebrating His coming.

So where can we draw inspiration for the celebration of His first advent?  Dare I say from the fact that He is coming again.  We who are His people between His advents must be faithful to declare His second coming even as we celebrate His first.

Second Advent

So let us begin with the simple fact that His second advent will reveal the victory He accomplished when He laid down His life near the end of the first.  John’s revelation speaks of a Lamb on the throne that appeared as if sacrificed.  This serves to remind us of what Jesus accomplished when He died on the cross.

He began to set all the wrong things right in the laying down of His life, even as it simultaneously fulfilled centuries-old prophecies.  He will return to complete that process, seated on His Father’s throne, ruling His eternal kingdom.  But what does that have to do with us now?

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.”  Matthew 25:31 ESV

Making the Kingdom Known Now

We must live in such a way as to alert the world to His kingdom.  It will be completed in that age, but He has already begun to reign. We are not waiting for the kingdom to begin, but to be fulfilled.  This means that we must live daily as people who are fully aware that a kingdom exists now that will also exist eternally.  We must invite people to walk in the reality of it, first by doing so ourselves, and then by explaining to them how they can join us, as we have opportunity.

That is how we live as His people between His advents.  We esteem Him as the King in the Manger, and exalt Him as the Lamb on the Throne, both now and evermore.

How can you do that today?  First, embrace the reality and wonder of it.  You are a part of an eternal Kingdom, a child of the King, so you have a glorious inheritance.  Not will have.  You have it now.  That changes things.  Maybe it needs to change some things for you.  Can you think of any?  Second, you need to let everyone who will listen know that they,  too, can have this inheritance.  It is already made available to them, if they will simply accept the invitation to be a child of God through faith in Jesus. 

Jesus, thank You for coming once, and Your promise to come again.  Thank You for making us Your people between Your Advents.  Help us to live for You and Your glory today and every day as we actively await Your return.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen!

Expectant Tuning!

Keep coming back and we will work help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence.   We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.

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Video 54.5 Transcript, 12.5 REFRAMED

Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.

Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:
Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Many look at the baby in the hay and forget this was only the beginning of the story.  It started at the manger, but it lead to the cross. He had to become like us so His payment there could satisfy the laws just demands.  See the infant sleeping, but welcome the Incarnate Savior.

After becoming sin for us, He was resurrected from the dead.  He is now exalted on high, at the right hand of the throne of God the Father and has been given that name that is above every name.  See Him in all His royal splendor and give glory to Jesus.

He will gather together His people, some from every tribe and tongue and language.  From the four corners of the earth He will call the nations to come and worship. Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Confess it now.

At the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven, and on earth and under the earth.  He will take His rightful place of worship as King of kings and Lord of Lords. The greatest treasure belongs to those who choose to worship Him now.  Will you commit to do so?

Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.

Sing

Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond.  Until next time, be Resonant.

The post How to Be His People Between His Advents, REFRAMED appeared first on Resonant 7.

Image Attributions
King in the Manger – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/jesus-christ-god-holy-spirit-4671798/
Lamb on the Throne – https://www.blockislandtimes.com/affiliate-post/lamb-upon-throne/30689#&gid=1&pid=1