Fulfillment and Hope: God in Our Suffering

Devotional

Day 1: Fulfillment in Christ's Birth

The birth of Jesus is a profound event that signifies the completion of God's promises, ushering in a new era of hope and redemption. This fulfillment is not merely about the realization of ancient prophecies but about the embodiment of God's faithfulness to His people. In the face of adversity and uncertainty, the birth of Christ invites believers to trust in God's overarching plans, even when circumstances seem dire. The story of Jesus's birth is a testament to the divine orchestration of events that bring about salvation and hope for humanity. [01:39]

Isaiah 42:6-7 (ESV): "I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you struggle to see God's promises being fulfilled? How can you actively choose to trust in His plans today, even when the outcome is uncertain?

Day 2: The Power of Obedience and Faith

Joseph's immediate response to God's warning exemplifies the power of obedience and faith. In moments of crisis, his trust in divine guidance led to the protection and fulfillment of God's purposes. Joseph's actions remind us that faith is not passive but requires active participation in God's plans. His story encourages believers to listen for God's voice and respond with courage and trust, knowing that obedience can lead to divine protection and the unfolding of God's will. [05:20]

Hebrews 11:8 (ESV): "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt prompted to act in faith. How did you respond, and what might God be calling you to do in obedience today?

Day 3: God in Our Grief

The story of Rachel's weeping and the massacre in Bethlehem serves as a poignant reminder that God is present in our suffering. He does not stand apart from our pain but enters into it, offering comfort and hope for restoration. This narrative challenges the notion of a distant deity and affirms the Christian belief in a God who is intimately involved in the human experience. In times of grief and loss, believers are encouraged to seek God's presence, trusting that He is with them in their darkest moments. [12:40]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV): "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced deep grief. How did you sense God's presence with you, and how can you seek His comfort in your current struggles?

Day 4: Rejecting Deism

The belief that God is distant and uninvolved is challenged by the Christian narrative of a God who is intimately present in our lives. Embracing this truth can transform our understanding of suffering and God's role in it. The Christmas story reveals a God who enters into human history, offering hope and redemption. This understanding invites believers to reject deism and embrace a relationship with a God who is actively involved in their lives, guiding and sustaining them through every circumstance. [13:28]

Acts 17:27-28 (ESV): "That they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for 'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we are indeed his offspring.'"

Reflection: How does your view of God influence your response to suffering? What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with a God who is near and involved in your life?

Day 5: Hope Amidst Mourning

Jesus's life and teachings assure us that mourning is not the end. Through Him, we find a gateway to deeper joy and the promise of a future where every tear will be wiped away. This hope empowers believers to live as light-bearers in a world filled with grief. The promise of redemption and restoration through Christ encourages believers to hold onto hope, even in the midst of sorrow, and to share this hope with others, bringing light to those in darkness. [26:34]

Revelation 21:4 (ESV): "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."

Reflection: In what ways can you be a source of hope and light to those around you who are experiencing grief? How can you embody the promise of joy and restoration in your daily interactions?

Sermon Summary

Summary:

Today, we explored the profound theme of fulfillment in the Advent series, focusing on Matthew's account of Jesus's birth and the prophecies it fulfills. The term "fulfilled" in this context means to be made complete, and Jesus's birth signifies the realization of God's promises. We delved into the story of Mary and Joseph, who faced immense challenges, including the threat from King Herod, who sought to kill Jesus. Despite the danger, Joseph's obedience to God's guidance saved Jesus, highlighting the importance of faith and trust in divine plans.

We also examined the tragic events in Bethlehem, where Herod's wrath led to the massacre of innocent children, fulfilling Jeremiah's prophecy of Rachel weeping for her children. This story of grief and loss resonates with our own experiences of suffering and raises questions about God's presence in our pain. We discussed the concept of deism, which views God as distant, and how it contrasts with the Christian belief in a God who is intimately involved in our lives.

The Christmas story reveals a God who enters into our suffering, offering hope and redemption. Jeremiah's prophecy points to a future where God will restore His people, and Jesus's birth is the ultimate declaration of God's presence in our pain. We are reminded that mourning is not the end of our story; through Jesus, we find comfort and the promise of a future without pain. As followers of Jesus, we are called to embody this hope and joy, sharing the good news with others and being a light in a world filled with grief.

Key Takeaways

1. bearers in a world of grief. [26:34]
** [26:34]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:39] - Introduction to Fulfillment
[03:39] - The Threat of King Herod
[05:20] - Joseph's Obedience
[06:10] - The Flight to Egypt
[07:14] - Herod's Massacre
[08:32] - Rachel's Weeping
[09:27] - Rachel's Story
[11:00] - Symbolism of Rachel's Grief
[12:40] - God's Presence in Grief
[13:28] - Challenging Deism
[14:40] - Misconceptions About God
[15:42] - Where is God in Our Pain?
[19:52] - Jesus Enters Our Suffering
[21:04] - Hope in Jeremiah's Prophecy
[23:23] - Jesus's Mission of Comfort
[25:28] - The Already and Not Yet
[26:34] - Mourning and Joy Coexist
[29:34] - Living as Light-Bearers

Sermon Clips

"Sometimes when we think about fulfillment or prophecy, it might be easy to think about, oh, someone had a dream and now it's happening, or they saw something and now it's happening. But what Matthew is using here, this term fulfilled or fulfillment, actually means to be made full or to be made complete, or to bring to realization. So it's that Jesus, by being born, is doing something new, is putting all things into completion." [00:00:38] (28 seconds)

"Joseph immediately gets up and goes. At this point, I'd imagine both Mary and Joseph are moving as fast as they can. Joseph, we've already seen, has had a dream, believes God, another dream, he's like listening, he's in tune, he knows he's got to go. Their baby had a price on his forehead, and they needed to get out of there." [00:05:34] (22 seconds)

"When Herod realizes that he'd been outwitted, he was furious and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. So all of these innocent babies are killed at the hands of the Lord. And so we're going to talk a little bit about of Herod." [00:07:14] (21 seconds)

"Rachel, the familiar subject, symbol of grief and suffering, is representing this pain and suffering experienced by the Jewish people. So Jeremiah is writing to these people who are in exile. They've been taken by the Babylonians. Empire. They've lost all freedom, all autonomy. They've lost their cultural expression. And Rachel's grief over this exile then is a metaphor for the collective mourning of the entire people of Israel." [00:11:37] (30 seconds)

"I've been really lucky to have some friends who think a lot differently about the world than I do. And some friends of mine, I've been lucky to have some believe that there is a version of God. God exists in some kind of way, but that he is distant and kind of uninvolved in our lives. He doesn't really do anything anymore, and this is an especially true and poignant thing when we talk about pain and suffering in the world." [00:13:12] (25 seconds)

"The Christmas story, this one that we've been sitting with in Matthew, shows us something really profound. It shows us a God who doesn't avoid the mess of grief and suffering, but steps right into it. A God who enters into broken relationships, unmet expectations, and deep grief. The good news of Jesus, the message that his birth and ultimate death and resurrection offer us, is that God is with us in our mourning, and there will be a day with no more pain." [00:19:44] (37 seconds)

"If we take a deeper look at Jeremiah 31, and the verses surrounding verse 15 that's been quoted in Matthew, there's actually a great, great sense of hope that God is promising to restore his people, to rebuild them, and to bring joy out of their sorrow. This message of hope brings joy, and is fulfilled in Jesus, who not only enters our suffering, but brings redemption." [00:20:21] (29 seconds)

"But the good news of the Christian story is actually that God takes our pain so seriously that he was willing to enter into it himself, to become a man of grief and sorrows, to mourn and to weep, but to know that through his suffering, he will be able to make all things new." [00:23:23] (22 seconds)

"Jesus, before he heads back from earth to be with God the Father, promises that he will come back again. And in his second coming, the work that he started will be fully complete. The kingdom of heaven is already here, Jesus has already ushered in parts of it, and it's not yet. Jesus fulfilled the promise to end spiritual exile or a separation from God and draws us back to the presence of God." [00:25:28] (29 seconds)

"Through Jesus, mourning is not the end of our story, but it's actually a gateway to deeper joy. Jeremiah's promise again that eye will turn their mourning into gladness. While Jesus has ushered in the kingdom of God, we still live in a broken world where grief and loss persist. The not yet points to a day when Jesus will return to bring about the fullness of God's promises." [00:26:34] (28 seconds)

"This message of good news is not just for us to hold on to and keep to ourselves, but we have the incredible privilege of showing up in this world as good news people, people who hold fast to the promise that one day every tear will be wiped away, every loss restored, and every sorrow turned to joy. As followers of Jesus, we're called to embody this hope and joy in the midst of grief." [00:30:26] (30 seconds)

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