Week 2 - Monday

LOVE!

Reading:
Isaiah 49 and 50
I found this to be one of those passages where that threefold prophecy thing can make the reading either more confusing or more interesting.  It talks about God's servant who will rescue His people.  It talks about being a blessing to all nations.  It talks about the servant having words that are sharp/strong and powerful like a sword.  On one level it is talking about Jesus.  On another level it is talking about God's servant who lived in Isaiah's time, perhaps even Isaiah himself.  On yet another level it is talking about God's people, the church universal, God's servants by the indwelling spirit.

Yesterday's reading was
Romans 15: 4-13
Matthew 23: 32-35

I'm not exactly sure why the Matthew passage was included for the Advent reading.  Maybe because the second coming will be like the first coming - not as we expect.  We need to be watchful and waiting.

These verses about God's promises to the Gentiles always excite me.  My ancestors were blue painted pagans of the distant north.  What a miracle that we are grafted in to God's family.