Advent 2 - Steadfast: fixed in direction, unwavering, faith

Steadfast: adjective

1. fixed in direction; steadily directed
2. firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc.
3. unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence
4. firmly established
5. firmly fixed in place or position

This is the word that jumped out at me from Sunday's lectionary readings. Paul wrote to the Romans "... whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope." Hope in ... hope for ... what?

What is to come!

Or, perhaps, I should say
Who is to come
and What he will bring with him.

The Genealogy of Jesus, The Saint John's Bible

This is the genealogy of Jesus from The Saint John's Bible. It reminded me of the Jesse Tree image in Isaiah 11 ... "there shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit." The people of Israel steadfastly waited and watched  for this "shoot" for 700 years. And, for those Jews who have not believed Jesus is that shoot, the Messiah, they have been waiting and watching for 2,700 years! Steadfast: fixed in a direction; firm in purpose, resolution, faith.

Think of all the Jews have endured over the ages. How many times has another nation wanted and tried to wipe them off the face of the earth? What kind of effort and energy have they needed to put forth to keep their identity as the people of God ... though they are dispersed around the world? How have they worked at keeping their faith central to Israel although their nation (only since 1948! and they had to fight for that!) is occupied by many nationalities and their place of worship is "owned" by an enemy? How have they endured? Steadfast: steadily directed, unwavering, firmly fixed in place or position. With steadfast purpose they take encouragement from the promises of God written in His Word in former days ... and they hope for their Messiah.

We face many things in these present days. As Christians there are many who would be glad to have us gone and not be reminded of Jesus the coming One. We are dispersed among the nations of the world, which at times makes our differences more evident than the One that brings us together. And, we have no central place of worship ... other than our church buildings ... and even then they can be occupied by those who do not believe. But, we know our Messiah, our Savior ... Jesus. No matter what we may endure, in Him we stand by steadfastness and by the encouragement of His Word that he is coming ... again.

It is His promise.

And, in that we wait and watch and have hope!