Intro: For our Advent season this year, Pastor Mary has chosen to enjoy the Jesse Tree by sharing a 24-day practice to prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s birth; the event we celebrate and honor at Christmas. From the root of Jesse’s stump, we will discover or rediscover the people in the family Tree of Jesus Messiah who were instrumental in bringing the presence of God near to us in order to revive the Spirit-led family of faith. With each day’s reading, we will add a new symbol—an ornament—to our family tree.
Today is day three of our journey and our symbol is The Starry Sky.
The starry sky is a reminder of the promise that God made with Abraham (who was once known as Abram) and with all of his descendants who place their faith in Jesus. God used the stars in the sky as an example to show Abraham how big his family would be because of his faith.
Do you realize that you and I, as believers, are a part of Abraham’s family? When God revealed this promise to Abraham, He was including us! Isn’t that amazing, you and I are grafted into God’s Family, first through the promise that God made with Abraham because of his unwavering faith and hope, and next through the birth of Jesus and His ultimate sacrifice to save us from our sins and bring us into eternal glory with Him.
We need to remember that it took 25 years for Abraham and Sarah to have Isaac, in other words, it took 25 years for the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abram (who would be Abraham). Would you be hopeful for 25 years and cling to God’s promise through unwavering faith, like Abraham? The Apostle Paul tells us that “even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping – believing that he would become a father of many nations. For God had said to him, ‘That’s how many descendants you will have!’” as He was referring to the stars in the sky.
As we repent, reflect, and seek restoration for our hope in Christ this advent week of hope let’s step outside tonight or one night this week and look up at God’s creation in the sky. As you look up, remember God’s promise to Abraham that was fulfilled through the birth of Isaac and later through the death of Jesus, and allow Him to renew your hope and give Him great praise for being a part of His Family, because you, my brother or sister, are one of those stars that God was referring to as He made His promise to Abraham.
Genesis 15:5-6 (NLT)
5 Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, “Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That’s how many descendants you will have!”
6 And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord counted him as righteous because of his faith.
Genesis 22:17-18 (NLT)
17 I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. 18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”
Romans 4:18-25
18 Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping—believing that he would become the father of many nations. For God had said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!” 19 And Abraham’s faith did not weaken, even though, at about 100 years of age, he figured his body was as good as dead—and so was Sarah’s womb.
20 Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. 21 He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. 22 And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. 23 And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded 24 for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.
Galatians 3:6-9 (NLT)
6 In the same way, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” 7 The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.
8 What’s more, the Scriptures looked forward to this time when God would make the Gentiles right in his sight because of their faith. God proclaimed this good news to Abraham long ago when he said, “All nations will be blessed through you.” 9 So all who put their faith in Christ share the same blessing Abraham received because of his faith.
Prayer: Jesus, thank You for coming and laying down Your life so that my life could be saved. Help to strengthen my hope in You and faith in You to be like Abraham, so that You can use me as a bright shining light for Your Kingdom. I place my trust, hope, and faith in You, Jesus, and I bow myself down before You so that You can work in, through, and all around me so that others may see, hear, and know You. I ask all of this in Your Name, Jesus. Amen.