I revisit yesterday in my day 3 vbs prep scriptures, the Centurion who believes in Jesus and asks for healing for His Servant without Jesus physically travelling, we marvel at the HOPE, the faith in the centurion, a gentile, knowing God-power and knowing the lack of his worthiness and yet that Jesus is the Way. That’s an attitude for us as we see day 4 scriptures for VBS (yes, for each kit of Group, Day 4 is Jesus’s death and resurrection). Our attitude EVERYDAY should be of HOPE.

HOPE in Jesus and asking Him for His Power – it’s a fulfillment of the HOPE of the world – Jesus under direction from God, not shying away, fulfillment of the scriptures, and the Way of our forever forgiveness too. Jesus accomplishes all this, and we are blessed to share this HOPE, the LIGHT, the JOY with the world, especially at VBS. We need not shy away from this amazing opportunity to share Jesus in the Way!

Jesus is the HOPE, then, now, and to come. 

The Bible lesson we know, the prophecy may be new to many, that Jesus fulfilled his coming (see the Isaiah 41 scripture quoted in Matthew 12), and that Jesus will come again. We are not done yet! More Jesus Joy is in our Faith Future! This is what VBS brings to the next generation and reinforces for us.

Jesus is our JOY in this Journey! SING PRAISE!!!

Amen 

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God’s Chosen Servant – Matthew 12:15-21 

[After healing a man,] A large crowd followed him, and he healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he has brought justice through to victory. In his name the nations will put their hope.”

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Isaiah 42:1-13 NIV

The Servant of the Lord
“Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
    my chosen one in whom I delight;
I will put my Spirit on him,
    and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out,
    or raise his voice in the streets.
A bruised reed he will not break,
    and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
    he will not falter or be discouraged
till he establishes justice on earth.
    In his teaching the islands will put their hope.”

This is what God the Lord says—
the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out,
    who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it,
    who gives breath to its people,
    and life to those who walk on it:
“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness;
    I will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
    to be a covenant for the people
    and a light for the Gentiles,
to open eyes that are blind,
    to free captives from prison
    and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

“I am the Lord; that is my name!
    I will not yield my glory to another
    or my praise to idols.
See, the former things have taken place,
    and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you.”

Song of Praise to the Lord
Sing to the Lord a new song,
    his praise from the ends of the earth,
you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,
    you islands, and all who live in them.
Let the wilderness and its towns raise their voices;
    let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice.
Let the people of Sela sing for joy;
    let them shout from the mountaintops.
Let them give glory to the Lord
    and proclaim his praise in the islands.
The Lord will march out like a champion,
    like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;
with a shout he will raise the battle cry
    and will triumph over his enemies.