Wednesday we looked at the first stanza of our song. We focused the questions on the now of their experience: captivity, loneliness and exile. But can you see the now and the not yet?
The first verse says:
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here,
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel, Shall come to thee, O Israel.
“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” LATIN HYMN 1710 TRANSLATED NEALE
Despite their current circumstances, they (and we), are called to rejoice. Last month we read in Philippians 4 the command to rejoice always in the Lord.
Keith gave us a definition of contentment a few weeks ago: learning to not be determined by my external circumstances.
Contentment in the now, joy in the now, as we look towards the not yet.
Spend some time listening to your favorite worship song. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring a spirit of praise to your soul.