Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have also obtained access through him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Romans 5:1-5 (CSB)

These verses from Romans remind us of the lyrics from a favorite Advent hymn:

Rejoice, rejoice,
Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.
– lyrics from “O Come O Come Emmanuel”

Christ is coming, friends. Take heart — the hope of His glory is with us even as we anticipate His arrival.

Each Sunday during this season of Advent (the four weeks before Christmas Day), we will be reading a special set of Scriptures together right here on the blog. Leave your reflection in the comments, and reply to others. Let’s learn from one another!

Also, each evening during December, on Instagram and Facebook, we’ll share a beautiful image that features a verse and a promise from God. We hope you’ll add your voice to that chorus by sharing your own posts and the hashtag #incourageChristmas.

Make the season bright by reflecting on these promises from God. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the season, make time to quiet your heart and hear from His.