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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Everyone enjoy this podcast and transcript below! It features meditative music and moments to contemplate the Scriptures and reflections shared.
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 think about this.
Hope
Where is your hope? Is it in some institution or construct of man? Those things are not inherently bad, but they must not be the repository of our greatest hope. That must be reserved for God alone.
Tribes and nations are useful things. They give us groupings of people that help us to govern ourselves and allocate resources. Even still they are not where we should place our highest aspirations. That must be reserved for the King of nations.
Israel’s strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel. Joel 3:16 ESV
Jesus is not only the strength and consolation of His people Israel, but truly of all the earth. He has made Himself known through His long association with Israel, but He wants to be embraced by all the earth. Take refuge in Him today.
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. Where is your hope?
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider the source of your hope. Where does it lie? When things get really bad where do you turn? Pray this simple prayer, “Jesus, help me embrace Your strength, consolation and hope.”
Joy
Jesus is that One Who is the hope of al the earth. but that is not all. He is the desire of every nation and the joy of every longing heart. In Jesus we find everything we are searching for. In Him is the delight of every longing heart.
When we look elsewhere to find satisfaction and joy we find approximations. But those things are meant to point us to the source of them, or are simply counterfeits of the real thing. What are you longing for? What is your deepest desire?
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9 ESV
Not only is the Desire of every nation, He is the joy of every longing heart, even before they realize it is true. We can not see Him yet, but we love Him, believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible joy. That is what the presence of Jesus does for us. Welcome Him!
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.
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and think about your longings and desires. Are there things in your life that you have used to satiate the desire only Jesus can truly satisfy? Turn from them and to Him today. Pray simply, “Lord, fill my longing heart with Your joy.“
Lord, thank You for the reminder that my deepest longings can only be satisfied with You. You want to fill me with hope and joy so help me to turn to you today, and every day. In Jesus name. Amen.
Hopeful Thinking!
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Podcast 35.1 Transcript
Welcome to Thursday Thoughts at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s think about this.
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?
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.
Israel’s strength and consolation
Hope of all the earth Thou art
The Lord roars from Zion, and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth quake. But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people of Israel. Joel 3:16 ESV
Jesus is not only the strength and consolation of His people Israel, but truly of all the earth. He has made Himself known through His long association with Israel, but He wants to be embraced by all the earth. Take refuge in Him today.
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:8-9 ESV
Not only is the Desire of every nation, He is the joy of every longing heart, even before they realize it is true. We can not see Him yet, but we love Him, believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible joy. That is what the presence of Jesus does for us. Welcome Him!
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has come to your mind, or listen to what He is saying to you, then I will read our text once more, with the Refrain.
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
Take the mindfulness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time, Be Resonant.
The post What is the Source of Your Hope and Joy? appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attribution
Israel’s strength and consolation Hope of all the earth Thou art – https://unitedwithisrael.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/shutterstock_189303509-e1527431102587-604×400.jpg
Dear desire of every nation Joy of every longing heart – https://pixabay.com/illustrations/flags-world-peace-symbol-global-646562/
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