Come Thou long-expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel’s strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus 1744
By: Charles Wesley (1707-1788)
Listen to this modern version of this Christmas carol as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.
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Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we begin our journey through this Advent season and this Christmas carol, do more than sing these words, invite Jesus to come and fill your approach to Christmas with a greater awareness of His presence. Welcome Him to come and reveal Himself to you again. Let’s tune our hearts.
Waiting
We refer to Him as “long-expected” but are we really expecting Him? I do not mean in the sense that He said He would return so we expect He will keep His word. I mean it in the sense of are we waiting for Him, hoping He will return at any moment?
I am certain many will be surprised when Jesus actually breaks through the clouds for His second advent. How about you? Will Jesus find you expecting His coming?
Come Thou long-expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 1 John 4:9 ESV
We are God’s people between His Advents. Once He came as a babe, next as a King. The first gives us expectation for the second. We long for His return because He has promised to set us free so we cry out to Him to come. When did you last plead with Him to come?
It has been a long time since His first Advent and generations of the faithful have expectantly waited for His second. Advent means coming or drawing near and that is exactly what we are longing for Jesus to do. He was born to set us free and He will return to complete that work.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about expectation. Are you really expecting Jesus, or are you simply living your life. If we are to live through Him then we better start expecting Him. Ask the Spirit to help you expect Him daily, then make this your simple prayer today “Jesus, we are waiting for You.”
Resting
How can a baby give me rest? Or anything for that matter?
Well, this was no ordinary baby. He was the Son of God, and He grew up to be the Savior of the world. The One who would save us from our sins, and release us from our fears.
He came so we could find rest in Him. But we have to release them to Jesus, so we can find ourselves released from them. Will you release your fears and sins to Jesus?
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 ESV
Fear and sin are some of the most anxiety producing elements in our lives. We must learn to give them over to Jesus. That is the only way we can find rest in Him. What fear or sin do you need to cast on Jesus today? He cares for you. Stop carrying those things today.
Though Jesus has set us free, our fears and sins still hold us in their grasp at times. We want to be completely released from their clutches that we might find rest in Christ. What is keeping you from entering that rest? Are their fears or sins whose grip seems unrelenting?
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and reflect on the rest Jesus offers. Released from fears and sins we will be able to rest as never before. Pray a simple prayer like this one, “Spirit, show me if something is hindering my rest.”
God, thank You for the freedom that awaits us in Jesus. Help us to expect it more every day, anticipating the return of Jesus which will usher it in. Help us find rest even as we wait expectantly. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
Expectant Tuning!
Keep coming back, and we will work to 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 35.1 Transcript
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.
Come Thou long-expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free
From our fears and sins release us
Let us find our rest in Thee
Israel’s strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart
It has been a long time since His first Advent and generations of the faithful have expectantly waited for His second. Advent means coming or drawing near and that is exactly what we are longing for Jesus to do. He was born to set us free and He will return to complete that work.
Jesus, we are waiting for You.
Though Jesus has set us free, our fears and sins still hold us in their grasp at times. We want to be completely released from their clutches that we might find rest in Christ. What is keeping you from entering that rest? Are their fears or sins whose grip seems unrelenting?
Spirit, show me if something is hindering my rest.
Though many of them do not realize it, Jesus supports and sustains Israel, the people of God, and comforts them even after loss. At the same time He is also the hope of all the earth, not only the people of God but all people, but even more of them fail to recognize it.
Jesus, help me embrace Your strength, consolation and hope.
He is the Desire of every nation though they often pursue very different things thinking they will satisfy. The longing heart that finds Jesus finds joy and in Him the satisfaction that eludes every other pursuit. What are you desiring or longing for today? Jesus alone satisfies.
Lord, fill my longing heart with Your joy.
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 Wait For It…. appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attributions
Come Thou long-expected Jesus Born to set Thy people free – https://www.crosswalk.com/special-coverage/christmas-and-advent/nativity-scene-creche.html
From our fears and sins release us Let us find our rest in Thee – https://www1.cbn.com/devotions/jesus-in-the-manger
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