Monday, December 18, 2023

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

1 Peter 1:13

CNN, MSNBC, Fox News: On international fronts, in states across this country, and in our local communities, we are bombarded daily by the news media. Twenty four hours a day and seven days a week, we hear about the awful things that are happening around us. To be frankly honest, it does not matter the neighborhood. In any city on our planet, hope can be hard to find. 

As Christians, we are called to look beyond what is seen to what is true, as hope of Christ is demonstrated both in what we have behind us and what we have ahead of us. As we go through this advent season, we are reminded that Christian hope is shaped by what has happened and what will happen again. 

When most of us think about hope, we think about the future. We think that we can secure hope by focusing on the time when Christ will come back to meet us in the air. Frequently, I hear things like, “I can’t wait for Jesus to come back.” Some may say, “Jesus can come back today and it will be alright.” Yes, those are true statements, but the fact of the matter is that hope is not just looking ahead, It is also looking back.  

Additionally, hope is something more than just wishing. It is substantive and built on God’s track record. ??It is not something that has been deceived by the world’s fleeting promises, but it is ok with the struggle of humanity with strength and resolve. We can stand strong because we know that our God is trustworthy and worthy of our hope. He has proven it with a flawlessly faithful past, so that we can look forward to our future with expectation that brings us into action.  

PRAYER: Dear God, thank you for the hope you bring into my life. I don’t have to be in dismay as others who experience similar issues. My hope is in you, so I can be steadfast in my walk, knowing that my hope in you will not be put to shame. In the Name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Kim, Jay Y. 2020. “HOPE: AN EXPECTANT LEAP: Advent Reminds Us That Christian Hope Is Shaped Both by What Has Happened and What’s Going to Happen Again.” Christianity Today 64 (8): 60–64.