William Knelsen

Advent 2019 – Day 5

William · December 5, 2019

Yet you, LORD, are our Father. This statement is part of a confession from Isaiah 63 and 64. The confession is that none of us are clean, none of us are righteous. Humanity is full of corruption and evil, not worthy of the favour of a perfectly holy God. Our only hope is for God …

Advent 2019 – Day 4

William · December 4, 2019

The Advent season invites us to embrace wonder and hope rather than control over our future. Just as the first coming of Jesus did not happen as expected, so will the return of Jesus. There is no need to try and figure out the day or the way in which He will come. We need …

Advent 2019 – Day 3

William · December 3, 2019

Our blamelessness is the work of God. Any attempts to live a holy life should be done not out of an expectation that we will achieve it. Rather, holy living flows from the grace of God out of a desire to live out our identity as adopted children of God. This is what will keep …

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Advent 2019 – Day 2

William · December 2, 2019December 2, 2019

When Jesus arrived as the Messiah, he came in the most unexpected way. He was expected to be the next king of Israel, yet he was born in a stable. In Matthew 24, Jesus promises that his return would also be unexpected. “No one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but …

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Advent 2019 – Day 1

William · December 1, 2019

“The days are coming…” Hope is a common theme for the first week of Advent. The purple candle often used in church services represents the hope of the coming Messiah, the “righteous branch” that will sprout from the line of David. In Jeremiah 33:14-16 we read: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when …

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Advent Season

William · November 29, 2019November 28, 2019

Advent is commonly associated these days with a combination of calendars, chocolate, candles, or religious liturgy. The word comes from the Latin word adventus which means “coming” or “arrival” and is the four-week season of preparation for the coming of Jesus. You may think of preparation for Christmas as more of a busy time of …