When we read Scripture, we are not to use it mechanically to predict the future or find quick answers in the midst of uncertainty. Instead, our task is to grasp God’s will in a personal relationship with Him and respond in obedience.

 At the end of the day, the vineyard owner gives the same wage—a denarius—to those who worked all day and those who worked only an hour. This goes beyond fairness; it symbolizes grace. This grace does not depend on human merit or qualifications but reveals God’s love and mercy.

We see the infant Moses placed into a papyrus(reed) basket and set afloat on the Nile. Through this scene, we witness how God’s providence can be at work in seemingly small, fragile acts within everyday life. Even without a dramatic miracle or a clear sign, the mother’s “small act”—hiding her child for three months and preparing the basket—becomes part of God’s greater work of salvation.

Elisha’s actions were not mere benevolence but were firmly grounded in God’s grace. Confident in God’s help, he had already perceived the heavenly armies—horses and chariots of fire—protecting him. Thus, one who truly grasps the depth of God’s grace can extend forgiveness and mercy to enemies. Elisha did not forgive because he was strong in himself; rather, he lived graciously because he was filled with God’s grace.

Psalm 27 abounds with earnest cries to God amid external troubles and inner turmoil. Underlying these pleas is a deep conviction that God hears, shows mercy, and responds to prayer—revealing Him as a personal God. He is not a distant force turning the wheels of history without regard for humanity, but One who communicates with us intimately.

The Magi did not follow the star because it was simply beautiful or mysterious. They were drawn by the promise that the star signaled—the opportunity to meet and worship the incarnate Jesus. The star served as a guide, but the true significance lay in the one it pointed to: Jesus Himself. The worship offered by the Magi was a personal, heartfelt response to the God who came in human form.

The Christmas season often dazzles us with grand displays of light and decorations, but the first Christmas in Bethlehem was strikingly different. It was a place of humility, darkness, and obscurity—the last place one would expect a king to be born. Yet, it was here that Jesus entered the world, reminding us that God’s glory shines not in human grandeur but in the most unlikely of circumstances. This sets the stage for understanding Mary’s song, the Magnificat, a declaration of praise that magnifies God’s character and His transformative work in her life and the world.

Isaiah 40:5 declares, “The glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.” This promise extends beyond Israel, envisioning global redemption and restoration—personal, communal, societal, and cosmic. This comprehensive hope resonates with the Advent season as we anticipate the fulfillment of God’s promises.

John 1 connects God’s work of creation with the incarnation of Jesus Christ. It begins with the powerful statement, “In the beginning was the Word,” emphasizing that the Word (Logos) is God. Just as God commanded, “Let there be light” during creation, Jesus came into the world as the Light that drives out darkness. He is both the Creator who spoke the world into being and the Light that brings life and hope.

Before the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, Moses declared that his mission was coming to an end and prophesied that God would raise up a new prophet. He commanded the people to listen to that prophet and follow God’s will. This prophecy in Deuteronomy ultimately points to Jesus Christ, the true Prophet foretold throughout the Old Testament.

His birth fulfilled God's promise to dwell with His people. Our ultimate hope lies not in temporary solutions but in a lasting relationship with God. Walking with Him means sharing in His holiness, seeing His glory, and living with boldness, peace, and hope.

 The kingdom of God breaks into ordinary lives. Those who came to John were not political or religious elites but common people. He called them to bear fruits of repentance through justice and love in daily life. The kingdom of God challenges even the most ordinary routines, calling for transformation in real, practical ways.

Through Amos, God warns of judgment, but His ultimate purpose is restoration. In the book’s final chapters, God promises to rebuild David's fallen shelter, restore the captives, and renew desolate cities. This restoration points beyond material prosperity to a society where God's justice and peace (shalom) are fully realized.

Overwhelmed by this miraculous deliverance, King Darius issued a decree proclaiming the greatness of Daniel’s God: “His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion will endure forever.” This proclamation from a pagan king underscores a profound truth: God’s authority extends beyond human empires, and even earthly rulers can be instruments of His will.

The mighty Roman Empire sought peace through military strength (Pax Romana), but Jesus brought peace through humility, grace, and sacrificial love.

The promise came with an invitation: “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” This wasn’t a conditional response based on human effort but a declaration that God had already planned their salvation. He would hear their prayers, restore them, and bring them back.

The apostles acted as Jesus had taught them, extending God’s kingdom through healing and restoration. The name of Jesus was not just words; it carried divine authority and power for renewal.

 God’s mercy is central to His kingdom. Zechariah emphasizes that God’s tender mercy brings light to those in darkness and the shadow of death. Regardless of our past failures or current struggles, God’s mercy offers hope and restoration. His forgiveness renews and heals us, calling us into a life of service and peace. This season of Advent reminds us that God’s mercy is greater than our shortcomings.

God’s justice transcends nationality or status, applying universally to all who act with pride and wickedness. Therefore, we are called to acknowledge our frailty and ask for God’s light to shine upon our lives. Malachi urges the Israelites to remember God's law and foretells the coming of a prophet like Elijah—a prophecy fulfilled in John the Baptist. The Day of the Lord was realized when Jesus Christ came to the earth.

Jesus came for sinners and the weak, and as His followers, we are called to emulate God’s love by serving the vulnerable and marginalized. Interestingly, those on the right did not even realize their acts of kindness, showing that their service was so natural and genuine it became an unconscious way of life. True love manifests in selfless actions that require no recognition.