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All week we have been memorizing John 1:14. “And the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as the only son from the father, full of grace and truth.”

Your challenge for today is to record a video of yourself reciting this week’s Bible verse and what it means to you! Send that video to someone you love who doesn’t live close by! This could be a grandparent, a cousin, an aunt or uncle, or maybe a good family friend! Share with them not only what the verse is, but why it matters!

Ready…Go! 

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." Isaiah 9:6-7 

When was the last time you found yourself longing for something? You know that feeling when you wish time would speed up so you can get to what you’re waiting for? It could be opening presents on Christmas morning, getting a text back from a person you really want to talk to, or waiting for your food to show up when you’re at your favorite restaurant.

When we long for something, it takes up a lot of space in our minds. The bigger the need or desire, the more difficult waiting becomes. That might be no big deal when it’s a Christmas present or your favorite food, but sometimes we long for things that are deep needs instead of surface-level wants.

Isaiah was longing for something too. He was looking at the world, seeing the brokenness in it, and longing for something different. As he did, God was already at work, preparing to send Jesus to fix the brokenness that Isaiah saw. God showed Isaiah a glimpse of what was to come, and that became the scripture that we now read, knowing that Jesus is the glimmer of hope that Isaiah saw.

Now we are on the other side of Christmas from Isaiah, Jesus being born hundreds of years after he saw this glimpse. In the same way that he longed for a better world, we still do the same, but what was once a glimmer has become a beacon of hope through Jesus on the cross. Through Him, we can see the peace that is here in part, that will someday fully arrive.

In the meantime, Jesus invites us to be a part of bringing peace to earth. If we were sitting at a restaurant longing for a meal, this means that we stand up, go back into the kitchen, and help the chef cook. So today, as we wait on something that is not yet fully here, let’s invite God to shape our hearts to not only long for the Kingdom that Jesus will bring, but to actively work to bring it to earth.

When was the last time you saw something in the world around you and longed for it to be different? 

What steps can you take this week to bring more peace, joy, or love to the world around you?

"Stir our hearts with longing for Your justice and peace to reign."

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

As we journey through the Advent season, our hearts are filled with a mixture of emotions. There is joy in anticipating the celebration of Christ's birth, the fulfillment of God's promise to send a Savior. But there is also a sense of longing, a deep yearning for the full realization of God's kingdom on earth. The prophet Isaiah's words echo this longing, painting a vivid picture of the one who is to come: "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." This is no ordinary child, but the one who will establish a kingdom of righteousness and justice that will have no end. Yet, as we look around our world, we see ongoing brokenness, oppression, and conflict. Injustice and violence seem to persist, despite the hope we find in the Incarnation. It's in moments like these that our hearts cry out, "How long, O Lord? When will your justice and peace reign?"

The Advent season calls us to nurture this longing, to stir our hearts with a fervent desire for God's kingdom to come in all its fullness. We're invited to lament the realities of sin and suffering, even as we cling to the promise that a day is coming when every tear will be wiped away. This longing is not merely a passive wish, but a transformative force that compels us to action. As we await the return of the Prince of Peace, we're called to be peacemakers in our own spheres of influence. We're empowered to pursue justice, to stand with the oppressed, to speak truth to power, and to work towards the reconciliation of all things.

The incarnation of Christ demonstrates that God is not content to remain distant from our brokenness. Instead, He entered into the mess of human existence, taking on flesh to dwell among us. And so, our longing for God's justice and peace to reign is not just a future hope, but a present reality to be made manifest through the lives of God's people. Today, may our hearts be stirred with a holy discontent - a deep dissatisfaction with the way things are, coupled with a confident hope in the way things will be. Let us lift our voices in lament, but also in praise, declaring our trust in the one who has promised to make all things new. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Savior, let us also prepare our hearts to be agents of His transforming work in the world. May our lives become signposts pointing to the day when God's justice and peace will reign supreme, and every knee will bow before the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Take a moment to reread today’s Scripture passage and then spend some time reflecting on the following questions:

Isaiah 9:6-7 (ESV) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

• What aspects of injustice or lack of peace in our world most weigh on your heart? How can you cultivate a deeper longing for God's kingdom to come in your own life?