Our Blessed Hope

Titus 2:11-13

During the Christmas holidays people spend a lot of time looking. Whether it is looking for that special gift, watching Christmas movies, even just looking forward to when it is all over, the amount of hours or days we spend looking would probably surprise us at how much it takes from what little precious time we have.

Advent is a time of looking. But it was intended to be looking for the return of Jesus and not the commercial or material season that it has become. These things have become a distraction and have caused our eyes to be taken off the true meaning of the season. So many people at this time of year don’t celebrate it with the joy of receiving the gift of Christ and the expectation of his coming again to set up his everlasting kingdom in earth.

What we should look for is that blessed hope and glorious appearing of Jesus. In this very different Advent season there is more despair and hopelessness like we have never seen. All of a sudden the commercial and material things have been taken away or at least reduced in some fashion or other. Even our relationships and gatherings have been altered leaving many people isolated and lonely. It has created a longing like never before for our complete redemption that we will receive when Christ appears.

Paul said the “Grace of God that brings salvation has appeared.” This grace was none other than the incarnate Christ who taught us through his life how to live and be ready for when he appears again not in salvation, but to judge the living and dead. By “denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we are to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.” This type of living prepares our heart for our heavenly home and doesn’t weigh us down with the things of this world.

Our focus then should be on the promise of Jesus that he will come again and receive us. This is the only hope for mankind in eternity. It is a hope that will burst into a glorious appearing by our great God and savior Jesus Christ. That is why Paul called it a “Blessed hope!”

Read also Like 21:26-28

Pastor Robby