This week we begin preparing our minds and our hearts for the birth of Christ. It is a time in the Christian season known as “Advent”. The word advent actually means “the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event.” During the advent season, we will be taking time on Sundays to focus on a different aspect of Christmas. While we think about receiving gifts at Christmas, it is important for us to understand what Jesus gave to the world when he was born so many years ago. These “gifts” are what we will be focusing on each Sunday. Hope, peace joy and love are things people need in their lives. They are the things that help us be encouraged as we journey in life.
This Sunday, November 28th, we will be talking about Hope and its importance to the world. Webster’s Dictionary defines hope as “to want something to happen or be true and think that it could happen or be true.” Hope is what keeps us going forward and not quitting. As a sports fan, I watch a lot, probably too much, sports. When a game begins, no matter what sport it is, both teams have an equal chance of winning. However, depending upon how different the talent is on the teams, one team may score way more points than the other team in a very short span of time. If they do, it may be difficult for the team that is behind to have hope. They may want to give up and quit playing. It is important for the coach to find ways to make sure the team keeps their hope. That can be a very hard job.
It can also be a very hard job for us in the world in which we live. A lot of things can happen that can cause people to lose hope and want to give up or give in to the pressures of the world. So, what did Jesus do to bring us hope? Without giving away Sunday’s message, I want to share with you that Jesus brought three different types of hope. Jesus brought hope over the past. The things we did in the past are just that, the past. We can’t do anything about them. We can ask for forgiveness for the bad things we did or said in the past. God’s hope can conquer the past. Christ is also the hope of the present. Christ is always with us, no matter what we go through in life. Christ is also the hope of the future. Our eternal life is placed in our faith for the hope of the future. He is the only way to eternal life.
No matter what people tell you, we all have hope because we all have God. With God all things are possible. When Jesus Christ came to earth, God showed us the hope of the world, and it was in the birth of His Son. Let’s give thanks for hope we have in Christ this year. Until next week…
Peace and Blessings…
Johnny
