12 Days of Christmas: A Ransom for Many (Day 1)

Welcome, dear friends, to the first day of our 12 Days of Christmas! And what a fitting day to begin as we share our visit to Ransom Church in Sioux Falls last Sunday. We missed being at church for the 1st Sunday of Advent as we were still driving towards South Dakota, but happily we made it to this 2nd Advent Sunday! Our son often plays guitar on the worship team but this Sunday he was off, so we all enjoyed just hearing the message of the Peace of Christ…

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Mark 10:45, New International Version Bible

.

.

A Call to Come

The candle lit on the first Sunday in Advent signifies the Hope we have in Jesus, and the hope He brings to this world. Per Google AI, the first candle is for “the Hope of the coming Messiah.”

The candle lit on the second Sunday represents Peace, or “the coming peace of Christ. “

The third candle lit on the final Sunday before Christmas represents “the nearness of Jesus’ birth.”

The fourth candle lit is on Christmas Eve and it shares “God’s great love.”

The final candle lit is the Christmas Candle represents “Jesus as the Light of the World.”

I apologize for these photographs not being the greatest; however, the message told was definitely the focus: That we can find peace in Christ Jesus.

Play this while you read the rest of this post. 🙂

.

Hearts towards God

As the pastor shared about the peace we can depend on with believing in Jesus, I was amazed to see our grandson really listening. It warmed my heart as he has gone through much these past couple of years. He is just 5 years old, and I hurt for him, though we live far away.

I hope that he accepts Christ Jesus into his heart, and soon. It would really help him to have someone to lean on besides his parents.

Lord, please bring us Your peace…

I am not here to give a full sermon as I wouldn’t get it right, but I can help point the way to Someone Greater who you can give your heart to when everything is going wrong, when it feels like your world is coming apart.

Jesus has always been there for me: When we had to sell our last house because my husband was out of work for those two long years, or when my first fiancé died when I was just 21, which feels so long ago now.

Jesus is the rock I clung to to get me through those times, and so many other times. He can be there for you, too.

It’s easy, just say, “Lord, I’m sorry that I haven’t been doing right, that I have sinned. Please forgive me, and now please come into my heart, for now and always. Amen.”

Ask then the Holy Spirit to come into your heart, too. The Holy Spirit helps us understand what we read in the Bible, all those Scriptures.

As Jesus was ascended up to Heaven, about 40 days after He rose from the dead ~ during that period He spent time visiting the Apostles and so many other people who saw him ~ after dying on the cross (Easter time, in case this is new to you), the Holy Spirit was left to help us and came down to indwell inside of us until Jesus returns again (the 2nd coming). He is like our conscience who helps guide us.

As a believer and follower of Christ Jesus, you will hear the Holy Spirit’s voice inside of you.

He is part of the Holy Trinity ~ God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit.

.

Peace as you go forward

.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things.…”

Berean Standard Bible · Phillipians 4:7, (4:6-8), Bible Hub

.

.

.

May God bless you all of your life,