A King Who Cares (Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025)

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1 Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness. 2 May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice. 3 May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.4 May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor. 5 May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. 6 May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. 7 In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more. 10 May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts. 11 May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him. 12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. 13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. 14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight. (Psalm 72: 1-7, 10-14 NIV)

Jesus meant to say where two or three are gathered, there could be trouble. And further, He could have said that about kings; where two or three are gathered, there will BE trouble, for earthly kings are not usually known for their humility and care for anything other than themselves. Yet, here we have the most famous of earth's kings, King David, writing in a positive way, about another king, one in whom he has a lot of care and concern for. While many believe this prayer was written for his own son, Solomon, it is very much a prophetic prayer for the ultimate king, King Jesus.

Human kings need God's justice and righteousness precisely because they lack it naturally. Every earthly ruler falls short, compromises, shows favoritism, or uses power for personal gain. But this prayer envisions a king so filled with God's own justice and righteousness that his reign perfectly reflects God's character. "May he judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice." Notice the concern for "your afflicted ones"—the marginalized, the oppressed, the vulnerable. True righteousness isn't just theological correctness; it's practical care for those society overlooks. During Advent, we prepare to celebrate the birth of the King who was himself born among the afflicted, laid in a manger because there was no room in the inn, a refugee fleeing Herod's violence, God entering the world through the doorway of poverty and vulnerability.

The psalm continues with an extraordinary vision: "May the mountains bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness. May he defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; may he crush the oppressor." This king's reign transforms even the landscape—mountains and hills produce prosperity and righteousness as if the very earth responds to just leadership. But more importantly, this king actively defends and saves—he's not a passive figurehead but an engaged champion of the vulnerable. He defends the afflicted, saves the children of the needy, and crushes the oppressor. These three actions define righteous kingship: protecting those who can't protect themselves, rescuing those in desperate circumstances, and stopping those who exploit and harm. "May he endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations." This moves beyond any human king—Solomon's reign ended, David's dynasty fell, but this prayer envisions eternal reign. Only Jesus fulfills this longing for a King whose rule never ends, whose throne is established forever.

The psalm uses beautiful imagery to describe the King's reign: "May he be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. In his days may the righteous flourish and prosperity abound till the moon is no more." Rain on a mown field—after harvest when the ground is cut bare, rain brings new growth, fresh life, future hope. This King's presence is like life-giving rain to parched souls, bringing flourishing to the righteous and prosperity that endures. This isn't "prosperity gospel" promising material wealth to believers, but the comprehensive flourishing of communities where righteousness reigns—where justice is done, the poor are protected, children are safe, and oppression is crushed. It's shalom, the Hebrew word encompassing peace, wholeness, completeness, welfare, prosperity in the fullest sense. "May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth." The geographic scope keeps expanding—from local rule to universal dominion. Solomon's kingdom had defined borders, but this vision sees a reign that encompasses the whole earth. Only Jesus fulfills this—the King before whom every knee will bow, whose kingdom knows no boundaries.

The psalm then describes the nations' response: "May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts. May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him." The Magi from the east fulfilling this prophecy at Jesus' birth—bringing gold, frankincense, and myrrh, foreign dignitaries bowing before a baby in a stable. The psalm explains why the nations will bow: "For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight." This is why kings bow and nations serve—not because of military might or economic power, but because of His character. This King values what others dismiss. He hears cries that others ignore. He takes pity where others feel contempt. He rescues those others exploit. "Precious is their blood in his sight"—every person, especially the vulnerable and needy, has infinite value to this King. He doesn't sacrifice the weak for the powerful's benefit; He gives Himself for the weak.

During Advent, as we light candles and sing carols, we're declaring that the King described in Psalm 72 has come in Jesus Christ. He was born as one of the needy, lived among the afflicted, welcomed children, defended the marginalized, confronted oppressors, and ultimately gave His own blood because ours was precious in His sight. His first coming inaugurated the kingdom of justice and righteousness. His second coming will complete it—establishing the reign where prosperity abounds, the righteous flourish, oppression ends, and shalom covers the earth. We live between the advents, in the "already but not yet," working for justice now while we wait for justice fully realized, defending the afflicted now while we anticipate the day when there are no more afflicted, offering ourselves for the needy now while we await the King who will wipe away every tear. Advent calls us to be people shaped by the character of the coming King—those who value what He values, defend whom He defends, and live as citizens of His eternal kingdom of righteousness and peace.

PRAYER: Righteous King, we praise You for being endowed with God's justice and caring for the afflicted, the needy, and the oppressed—during this Advent season, shape us into people who reflect Your kingdom values, defending the vulnerable, pursuing justice, and living as those who believe Your reign of righteousness and peace is coming, in Your holy name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: Identify one way you can practically defend, save, or advocate for someone who is afflicted, needy, or oppressed in your community, living as a citizen of the King's kingdom where the vulnerable are valued and protected.

I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God, and you matter to me! Make life matter to those whom God sends to you to bless.

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

Our God of Life (Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025)

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1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD— 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. 5 Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. 6 The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. 8 The infant will play near the cobra’s den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. 9 They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the LORDas the waters cover the sea. 10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious. (Isaiah 11:1-11 NIV)

Our first home in Houston was an apartment that bordered an empty lot where remnants of concrete steps, and other clues that the original building had fallen to some sort of catastrophe. We would learn later that it was a huge home that burned down to the ground and one of the victims in that fire had been a baby, whose cries we heard on the anniversary night of the fire. But I share this, not to scare you, but to remind you that death was all you could see on this lot. The building was gone, leaving only steps. The overgrowth was of weeds and trees, but death had clearly won. Yes, there were a couple of stumps of where large trees had once had life. A stump is a natural headstone to the life that once was the tree. The once-was is now a goodbye monument. But as the prophet speaks of what is to come; this Advent event, he says that out of that stump will come life; a branch will bear fruit; and not only fruit, this branch will have the Spirit of the Lord resting upon Him; a Spirit of wisdom and understanding, a Spirit of counsel and of might; a Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord. Advent is the season of waiting for the impossible; a new start after the final goodbye. The Davidic dynasty, which seemed so glorious under David and Solomon, has been reduced to a stump through disobedience, defeat, and exile. The royal family that once ruled from Jerusalem's palace now lives in obscurity in Bethlehem, Jesse's hometown. Everything appears over. But Isaiah prophesies that from this dead-looking stump, a shoot will emerge—tender, green, alive, growing. This is the essence of Advent hope: God specializes in bringing life from death, renewal from ruins, future from failure. The Branch that will bear fruit doesn't come from the tree at its height but from the stump at its lowest point. Christmas celebrates that when God seemed most absent, when His promises seemed most broken, when hope seemed most foolish—that's precisely when He acted. The shoot from Jesse's stump is Jesus, born not in a palace but in a stable, not to earthly power but in humility, fulfilling ancient promises in unexpected ways.

Isaiah then describes what will rest upon this Branch: "The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord." This is the sevenfold Spirit, the fullness of God's presence and power resting permanently on the coming King. Not visiting occasionally or empowering temporarily, but resting—dwelling, remaining, abiding. At Jesus' baptism, the Spirit descends and remains on Him like a dove, confirming Isaiah's prophecy. This King will have wisdom—seeing reality as God sees it; understanding—discerning the heart of matters; counsel—giving perfect guidance; might—possessing the power to accomplish God's purposes; knowledge of the Lord—intimate relationship with the Father; and fear of the Lord—proper reverence and obedience. "And he will delight in the fear of the Lord." Most rulers delight in power, wealth, or acclaim. This King delights in honoring God, in doing the Father's will, in living in reverent submission. During Advent, we prepare to celebrate the arrival of a King unlike any other—one whose greatness comes from His perfect relationship with God, whose power flows from the Spirit's fullness, whose reign is characterized by wisdom rather than force.

The passage then describes how this Spirit-empowered King will rule: "He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth." Human judges can be fooled by appearances, swayed by testimony, corrupted by bribes, or blinded by prejudice. But this King sees with supernatural discernment, judging with perfect righteousness. And notice His priorities: the needy and the poor. Most kings throughout history have served the wealthy and powerful who keep them in office. This King champions those with no voice, no influence, no resources to reward Him. "He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked." His weapon isn't a sword but His word—speaking truth that exposes lies, pronouncing judgments that cannot be appealed, declaring reality that cannot be denied. "Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist." In ancient warfare, the belt held weapons and kept garments secure for battle. This King's weapons are righteousness—always doing what's right—and faithfulness—always keeping His word. These aren't external decorations but the very things that hold His character together and equip Him for His mission.

Then Isaiah paints a vision of the peace this King will establish: "The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them." This describes the reversal of the curse in Genesis 3, when violence and predation entered creation. In the King's kingdom, natural enemies dwell in peace. The predator no longer threatens the prey. "The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox." Even carnivores become herbivores—violence is transformed at its roots. "The infant will play near the cobra's den, and the young child will put its hand into the viper's nest." The most vulnerable—infants and children—will be safe even among the most dangerous creatures. "They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." This is the ultimate explanation: when the knowledge of the Lord fills the earth as water fills the sea—completely, thoroughly, everywhere—violence ends. Peace comes not through superior weapons or enforced treaties but through universal recognition of God's lordship. The passage concludes: "In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious." The shoot from the stump becomes a banner—a rallying point for all nations, not just Israel. This King's kingdom knows no ethnic, geographic, or cultural boundaries. His peace extends to all peoples.

During Advent, we light candles in darkness, singing about peace on earth while watching news of wars and violence. Isaiah's vision reminds us that the peace we long for isn't achieved through human effort or political maneuvering—it comes through the reign of the Spirit-empowered King born in Bethlehem. Jesus' first coming initiated this kingdom; His return will complete it. We live in the "already but not yet"—the kingdom has come in Jesus, but it hasn't yet come in its fullness. We've tasted the peace, witnessed the reconciliation, experienced the transformation, but we still await the day when the knowledge of the Lord covers the earth as waters cover the sea. Advent calls us to be people who believe in the shoot from the stump, who trust that God brings life from death, who live as citizens of a coming kingdom of perfect peace, and who rally to the banner of the King who will make all things right.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, shoot from Jesse's stump and Branch that bears fruit, we worship You as the Spirit-empowered King who brings life from death and establishes peace through righteousness—during this Advent season, help us live as people who believe Your kingdom is coming, working for justice and peace now while we wait for the day when the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as waters cover the sea, in Your name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This Advent, choose one area of conflict or division in your life—whether personal, relational, or communal—and take one concrete step toward peace, living as a citizen of the coming kingdom where the wolf dwells with the lamb and enemies become friends under the reign of the Prince of Peace.

I love you and I thank God for you. You matter to God and you matter to me. Be the life people are seeking in your thoughts, words, and actions. You are a blessing of life!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

The WavePaver says, Get Ready! (Monday, Dec. 1, 2025)

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1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' " 4 Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:1-12 NRSV)

I don't imagine I had many sins at the age of eight, at least that I was aware of, but I had not had many theology classes by that time, but when my pastor said, in his eloquent Spanish, that I should invite Jesus into my heart as my Lord and Savior, it made sense, and I did. I did not hear any angelic choir singing nor did a bright light blind me, but I knew that I belonged to Jesus at that moment. Someone had prepared the way for that to happen, and I said yes, thanks to the WayPaver. He may have been the same one who talked to someone who talked to you. But imagine the people hearing, for the very first time in their lives, someone talking about their need to repent. Repentance was not a part of Jewish theology in the sense we understand it. The Jews celebrated acts of atonement and the need to be made right with God, but overall their birth as Jews was seen as a purifying event. The cleansing waters of baptism were not for them; it was for those born non-Jew. Repentance involves a complete turning away from sin and turning towards God, and as an outward symbol, they would present themselves for baptism. In a river no less; the Jordan River. And the why behind repentance was that God's Kingdom has come near. And John takes them back to what the great prophet Isaiah had spoken; "Straight paths for God," and from a man dressed as an Old Testament prophet in camel's hair with a leather belt and who ate locusts and wild honey; and the people responded in record numbers. The WayPaver hit a nerve! People felt it for years but did not know what to do about it; that nagging dull sensation that something was present that shouldn't be. Something inside of them was making them feel like they were dying and they wondered how much more oxygen do I have with this thing in me? That thing was sin. The WayPaver urged confession and repentance and baptism. You must do this, he urged, so that you can be a part of the Kingdom.

The Kingdom of Heaven is not a destination or a coming reality; it's right now and it's right here. It is the embodiment of the reality of God's presence in us, molding us into what could be; people filled with love and grace and compassion for others. It's the salvation from the coming wrath of God that John warns about; it's the tools present in us that allow us to bear good fruit, helping us do our part in helping bring about the transformation of the world. And the only way in is through Jesus coming in us and making us new. The invitation from John was so good that even Pharisees and Sadducees presented themselves for baptism, but John warns them: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" The Pharisees and Sadducees—the theological experts and religious elite—come to observe John's baptism, but he sees through their pretense. He calls them a "brood of vipers," language Jesus will later use, indicating that their religious pedigree means nothing if their hearts are unchanged. They're coming to the baptism as spectators or to protect their religious credentials, not as penitents needing forgiveness. John demands: "Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham." This is shocking—telling Jewish people that their Abrahamic lineage doesn't guarantee salvation. God doesn't need their religious heritage; He could create Abraham's children from rocks if He wanted. What matters isn't who your ancestors were but whether your life shows evidence of genuine transformation. "Fruit worthy of repentance" means changed behavior, transformed priorities, a life that demonstrates that your repentance is real, not just religious words.

John then issues a sobering warning: "Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." Time is running out. Judgment is imminent. Trees—whether individual lives or religious institutions—that don't produce fruit are marked for destruction. This isn't about earning salvation through good works; it's about authentic repentance producing visible transformation. Dead religion, performance without heart-change, credentials without character—all of it will be exposed and removed. John concludes by pointing beyond himself: "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." John's water baptism is preparatory; Jesus' baptism with the Holy Spirit and fire is transformational and judgmental. The Spirit brings new life and power; the fire purifies and judges. Jesus comes with a winnowing fork to separate wheat from chaff—authentic faith from religious pretense, genuine disciples from mere spectators, transformed lives from empty profession. The wheat is gathered and preserved; the chaff is burned. This passage confronts our tendency toward comfortable, culturally acceptable Christianity that requires no real repentance, produces no fruit, and costs us nothing. John calls us to examine whether our faith is authentic or just religious veneer, whether we're bearing fruit worthy of repentance or relying on heritage, attendance, or theological knowledge. The kingdom of heaven is still near, and the call to repentance is still urgent. But it is still open!

PRAYER: Holy God, send Your Spirit to search our hearts and expose where we've relied on religious credentials rather than genuine repentance, where we've substituted heritage for transformation, where we've produced religious activity without spiritual fruit—help us prepare the way for Jesus by clearing the obstacles of pride, self-righteousness, and comfortable religion, turning our whole lives toward You in true repentance, in Jesus' name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: This week, ask God to reveal one specific area of your life where you've been substituting religious activity for genuine repentance, and take one concrete step to "bear fruit worthy of repentance" by changing your behavior in that area, not to earn God's approval but to demonstrate that your turning toward Him is real.

I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me! As we start Advent, let us travel together in faith towards what could be!

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.

What Are We Waiting For? (Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025)

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Hear devo: https://bit.ly/49Wh84x

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4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. 5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.” 10 Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.” 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.” 12 And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.” 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:4-13 NIV)

Happy Tuesday, dear Friend! May the blessings of the Lord be rich and plentiful upon you, today and all days. Make this a memorable feast of Advent.

The late Rev. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, pastor of Marble Collegiate Church, author, publisher of Guideposts Magazine and the best-seller The Power of Positive Thinking, stood on a busy Manhattan street corner during the height of the Christmas rush. Pedestrians at every street corner awaiting for the lights to change, all loaded with lavishly wrapped Christmas gifts; cars and cabs rushing here and there; and Dr. Peale said, "I'm delighted and amazed, all of this is because of the birth of one Middle Eastern baby!" Indeed. I concur with that sentiment and as I've shared before for me it starts as we prepare for All Hallows Eve, which is to me, an Advent season of the coming real Advent season; a rush of special days packed together, all leading to the actual day of Jesus' birth which we celebrate as Christmas. It is an emotional hight that helps me enjoy each day even with all that is expected of me and the to and fro my body takes me; delayed airline flights, poorly prepared commercial meals posing as the actual Thanksgiving Dinner, but even those cannot dampen the joy of being with loved ones. Yes, I do halfway miss the preparations that I once upon a time had to do; the preparation of bulletins in the early days without a secretary and the printing of said bulletins on a mimeograph machines, to the four worship services on one Christmas Eve at a certain big church I pastored, including the ever difficult time of an 11:30 pm candlelight service. I spoke with a retired friend and colleague who today finished the bulletins all the way through Christmas Eve 2025! I could sense the relief and tiredness in his voice at all he had to do. It's all part of the preparation; the getting ready.

We celebrate Advent as a season of hopeful waiting and Paul's words to the Romans capture the essence of what we're waiting for—not just the celebration of Christ's first coming but the fullness of what His coming means for all people. Paul begins by grounding our hope in Scripture: "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." The Old Testament isn't just ancient history or interesting stories—it's God's instruction manual for living with hope during long seasons of waiting. The patriarchs waited for promised descendants. Israel waited for deliverance from Egypt. The exiles waited for return from Babylon. The prophets waited for the Messiah. Their stories teach us endurance—the capacity to keep believing when fulfillment is delayed. Their testimonies provide encouragement—proof that God keeps His promises even when centuries pass. And both endurance and encouragement produce hope—confident expectation that what God has promised, He will do. This is the posture of Advent: we look back at promises kept to find strength for promises still unfolding.

Paul then prays for unity: "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." The call to unity isn't based on uniformity of opinion or sameness of background—it's based on sharing the attitude of Christ Jesus, who humbled Himself, served sacrificially, and welcomed those who were different. In Paul's context, this means Jewish and Gentile believers learning to worship together despite profound cultural and theological differences. In our context, it means the church embracing diverse people with one mind and one voice to glorify God. Advent reminds us that Jesus came for all people, that His kingdom transcends every human division, and that our unity in Christ is itself a testimony to the world that God's promises are true. "Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." The basis of our acceptance of each other isn't agreement on secondary matters—it's the reality that Christ accepted us while we were still sinners, enemies, rebels. If He can accept us in that condition, we can surely accept one another in our differences.

Paul then demonstrates from Scripture that Jesus came for both Jews and Gentiles, fulfilling God's ancient plan: "For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God's truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy." Jesus' ministry confirmed God's faithfulness to Israel while simultaneously opening the door for all nations to experience God's mercy. Paul quotes four Old Testament passages showing that God always intended to include the Gentiles: "Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name," and "Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people," and "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him," and "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope." This barrage of Scripture makes the point unmistakable—from the beginning, God's plan included all nations. Jesus is the fulfillment of Israel's hope and the hope of the Gentiles. Advent celebrates that God keeps His promises and that His promises are more expansive than we imagine. The baby born in Bethlehem came not just for one nation but for all nations, not just to save a select few but to offer hope to every people group on earth.

Paul concludes with a benediction that captures the heart of Advent hope: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Notice the source—"the God of hope." Hope isn't something we generate through positive thinking or optimistic outlooks. Hope comes from God Himself, who is inherently hopeful, who sees the end from the beginning, who is working all things toward their appointed conclusion. This God fills us—not with vague optimism but with joy and peace that come through trusting Him. Trust is the channel through which God's hope flows into our lives. And the result is overflow—hope so abundant it spills out of our lives into others'. This overflow happens "by the power of the Holy Spirit"—it's not self-manufactured enthusiasm but Spirit-generated confidence in God's promises. During Advent, as we light candles and sing carols and wait for Christmas, we're practicing a deeper waiting—for Christ's return, for God's kingdom to come fully, for every promise to be fulfilled, for every tear to be wiped away, for every wrong to be made right. And in this waiting, the God of hope fills us with joy and peace, making us people who overflow with hope even in a world that often feels hopeless. This is the gift of Advent: not just remembering that Jesus came, but living as people confident that He will come again to complete what He started.

PRAYER: Loving God of hope, thank You for keeping Your promises, for sending Jesus as Savior for all nations, and for filling us with joy and peace as we trust in You—during this Advent season, help us overflow with hope by the power of Your Holy Spirit, living as people who believe Your kingdom is coming and Your promises are sure, in Jesus' strong name, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! OUR CALL TO ACTION: During this Advent season, practice overflowing with hope by intentionally sharing one specific reason for your hope in Christ with someone who seems discouraged or hopeless, letting the joy and peace God has given you spill into their life.

I love you and I thank God for you! You matter to God and you matter to me. Advent is a journey best shared with each other, working to make the world a better place and to usher in the kingdom of God.

Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.