A Prayer about Jesus’ First and Second Coming
Surely I am coming soon. Revelation 22:20
Lord Jesus,
In this season of celebrating your first arrival,
our longings are piqued for your second arrival.
You say, “Surely I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20),
and we say, “How soon is soon?”
As we see the glory and healing and hope
you brought at your first coming,
as we see the many wonders that await us
when you return,
oh how eager we are,
far more eager than a five-year-old
on Christmas Eve.
For we know the gifts you bring on that day
will never get old or boring:
the consummate intimacy with you and others,
the complete healing from sin and sickness,
the perfect peace with all who love you,
the lovely diversity and abundant life…
All gifts whose shine will never fade away—
these are the things we most deeply long for.
You say, “Surely, I am coming soon.”
We say, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
Read Revelation 21-22.
Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.
![Have you seen the bright light?
The people walking in the darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. Isaiah 9:2
Light of the World,
I remember being a teenager,
spending hours at the Young Life Christmas tree lot,
singing noisily along
with John Denver and the Muppets Christmas album,
huddling with my friends over a trash barrel fire,
selling Christmas trees
to happy (and some unhappy) families.
Then I would come home to a dark and empty house,
turn on the Christmas tree lights,
and sit in the darkness marveling at the twinkling glory.
I truly was a young woman
walking in darkness
who had seen a great light.
Tim Keller tells us that in the days Christ appeared,
the world was “filled with evil and untold suffering….
violence, injustice, abuse of power,
homelessness, refugees fleeing oppression,
families ripped apart, bottomless grief.”
As he says, “Sounds exactly like today.”*
Lord, in this season of Advent,
may we see the darkness of this world for what it is,
and may we see your great light,
your light which has overcome the darkness,
the light which is the life of all mankind.
And may we share this light
with all who live and walk in deep darkness.
In the name of your light-shining Son. Amen.
Read Isaiah 9:2; John 1:4-10; Matthew 4:16.
[Quote from Tim Keller’s Hidden Christmas.]
Get Elizabeth’s Advent devotional for free here: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/34no8c805q.
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