Hope Was Given
Do you remember the first time you saw a Christmas tree light up? Or maybe the first time your kids or grandkids saw it? There is awe and wonder. There’s excitement. But also there is this piece of Christmas Spirit that comes alive at the start of the season. It’s hope. Hope for something wonderful to happen. And when that ignites, there is a bounce in our step. Things around us seem to be just a little more cheerful, a little more bright. Tis the season of perpetual hope.
As Christians, we have received that hope the moment we accepted salvation through Jesus Christ. Can you remember the day that it happened? Many of the same feelings of Christmas were in that moment. A sense of awe, wonder, and especially hope. When Paul was writing to the Roman church, he was expressing this very sentiment when he wrote that since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us (Romans 5:1-5 NIV).
Because we are justified through our faith we can now boast in the hope of the glory of God. Jesus Christ stepped down into history to give us hope for the future. It’s why we celebrate this time of year. He is the reason things seem bright. The reason the songs feel more cheerful. It’s because He’s the reason for the hope we feel. To lift our eyes up where my heart resounded the praise. Like a shepherd so scared, I'll rejoice and declare that hope was born this night. Glory to God in the highest. Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men. Let all of the world sing the chorus of joy because hope was born this night (Sidewalk Prophets, Hope was Born This Night).
We’ve been given a gift at Christmas. And it’s a gift meant to be shared. Send the hope of Jesus this season to those you know and love. Because you care enough to send the very best (Hallmark, 1944).
As Christians, we have received that hope the moment we accepted salvation through Jesus Christ. Can you remember the day that it happened? Many of the same feelings of Christmas were in that moment. A sense of awe, wonder, and especially hope. When Paul was writing to the Roman church, he was expressing this very sentiment when he wrote that since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us (Romans 5:1-5 NIV).
Because we are justified through our faith we can now boast in the hope of the glory of God. Jesus Christ stepped down into history to give us hope for the future. It’s why we celebrate this time of year. He is the reason things seem bright. The reason the songs feel more cheerful. It’s because He’s the reason for the hope we feel. To lift our eyes up where my heart resounded the praise. Like a shepherd so scared, I'll rejoice and declare that hope was born this night. Glory to God in the highest. Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men. Let all of the world sing the chorus of joy because hope was born this night (Sidewalk Prophets, Hope was Born This Night).
We’ve been given a gift at Christmas. And it’s a gift meant to be shared. Send the hope of Jesus this season to those you know and love. Because you care enough to send the very best (Hallmark, 1944).
Recent
Archive
2024
2023
November
2022
Categories
no categories
No Comments