Dillon Community Church

Imagine waiting for thousands of years to see the promised hope… but never seeing it happen before you die. That is faith! And that was exactly what the faithful in the Old Testament experienced. But imagine further the desolation and loneliness that the remnant faithful felt. For example, as Jeremiah watches his beloved Jerusalem destroyed, he cries out, “How deserted lies the city, once so full of people!” This leads him to exclaim “He made me desolate, faint all day long” (Lamentations 1:1, 13).

Now contrast this with Mary’s song, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant” (Luke 2:27-28). This is the heartfelt impact of receiving the love of our Savior! We have waited 2,000 years for the Messiah to return and bring this kind of heartfelt love to our broken and tired world. Do not lose heart. Let’s celebrate this love today and look forward to his return so we can embrace him personally!

Are you ready to celebrate Advent 2024 together? We will continue to wait faithfully for his return and laugh and sing while waiting… and asking… what child is this?

Grace and peace!

Jim Howard, pastor