James makes it abundantly clear that, no matter who you are, you're going to face trials of many kinds. Left to ourselves, we are tossed about like a wave on the sea — directionless and without purpose — and our faith quickly wilts like grass under a scorching sun. Why do trials overwhelm us? Because we lack wisdom and we lack faith. That's why we need wisdom that comes from God; wisdom that compels us to see trials from God's perspective. And this wisdom must involve sustaining faith that involves complete abandonment to God and His purpose for our trials. We learn that in order to become a people "perfect and complete" (1:4) we must be wholehearted and single-minded in our devotion to God, not "double-minded" and divided in our loyalty.

When trials come, when you experience suffering, when life doesn't look like you hoped, what is your usual response? Is it joy and thankfulness? Shockingly, that's how James writes we should respond. How can we count it all joy when we meet trials of all kinds? These first four verses of James give away the theme of the entire letter - that God desires to use all we go through in life to complete and whole perfection, that we would lack in nothing, for His glory!

In this final week of Advent, we take a look at two people living in longing expectation of the promised Messiah. Simeon and Anna were both nearing the end of their lives, holding onto the hope of seeing the Savior and Rescuer of the world come. Upon seeing the child, Jesus, with Mary and Joseph, the Spirit of God revealed to them that the arrival of their hope, peace, joy, and love had indeed come.

The song of the angels appearing to pronounce the arrival of Jesus' birth to shepherds in the field is a proclamation that has dramatic implications for all the world. "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!" Glory and peace. When glory is rightly given to God, peace comes to the earth His Son has come to rescue, through the power of His Spirit.

The song of Zechariah is the counterpart of the song of Mary. Luke depicts Zechariah as placing the story of John within he context of the entire history of God’s actions among the people of Israel. There is a continuity between that history and what Zechariah and his kindred are witnessing. Yet there is something radically new, unparalleled. According to Zechariah’s prophecy, John will be called “the prophet of the Most High.” He will not be just one more among the prophets. He will be of singular significance, because he “will go before the Lord to prepare his ways.” With these words on Zechariah’s lips, Luke is stressing both the importance of John and his subservience to Jesus, whose herald he will be.

Mary's song of humility and lifting up the Lord has many implications for us seeking to follow Jesus today. We must first humble ourselves to see how great our God is, and how good it is that He chooses to love us still.

The Father sends his disciples in the same way he sent the Son – with the power and presence of the Spirit to demonstrate and declare the good news of the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit enables disciples to obey Jesus’ commands by teaching them all that Jesus taught and empowering them to do all that Jesus did. God’s people are missionaries—sent with God’s powerful presence into the world, to show and share the gospel of Jesus.

The effects of sin are far reaching, touching all of creation. The good news is we have a Rescuer whose restorative work goes even further!

A member from our family, Will, continues where we left off in Romans 8, looking at how our identity in the Holy Spirit makes us missionaries because of the Missionary God who came through suffering and sacrifice to redeem us!