Help is on the way

 

It is a little easier to hold out in difficult circumstances when one knows that help is on the way. Advent is that time of the year when we wait with great anticipation for the arrival of the Messiah. Although Jesus has already come, marking time during Advent is a helpful way to remember that HELP has been sent to us already. 

I came across a lovely song from Toby Mac, that uses these words to speak hope into our lives. The name of the song is 'Help is on the way."

"It may be midnight or mid-day
He's never early, never late
He will stand by what He claimed
I lived enough life to say...

I heard your heart, I see your pain
Out in the dark, out in the rain
Feels so alone, feels so afraid
I heard you pray in Jesus' name

Help is on the way
Roundin' the corner
Help is on the way
Comin' for ya
Help is on the way
Yea-ee-ayy
I lived enough life to say...
Help is on the way."

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Rescued for a purpose

"So I want to remind you, though you already know these things, that Jesus first rescued the nation of Israel from Egypt, but later he destroyed those who did not remain faithful." - Jude 1:5

I find this verse quite hard to fathom in some ways - it leaves me feeling a little uneasy. It could give the notion of God as a revengeful tyrant, who delights in squashing his subjects. However, I believe it is good to read it with the background understanding of God's great compassion and mercy. 

It is true that the Lord rescued the Israelites from Egypt and later he condemned the disobedient to death, but it was because they chose to turn their backs on the Lord. All the promises the people made were broken through their own disobedience and this left the Lord with very little choice, but to discipline that generation. Jude is remind the people of how the old Covenant relationship was all about promises and consequences. 

Thankfully, the sacrifice of Jesus Christ has now atoned for our sins and we can turn to Jesus as our Rescuer and Saviour. For all who receive this gift, we are given a renewed hope and opportunity to show our allegiance to God. 

For this reason, I believe we need to honour the second chance we have all been given.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

Rescued

The compassionate heart of God is revealed in these words of Micah:

"You will soon be sent in exile
    to distant Babylon.
But the Lord will rescue you there;    he will redeem you from the grip of your enemies." - Micah 4:10

The prophet doesn't hide from the fact that the Israelites will end up going into exile (due to their rebellion), but God will rescue them from the hands of their enemies. It may confuse us as to why God would allow them to go into exile first, before he rescued them, but God's ways are not our ways, so we need to rest in God's decisions.

The Good News for all of us is that God DOES rescue us and He is willing to redeem anyone who longs to return home.

Living in Grace
D3LM3