The Day of Hope

The First Sunday of Advent is the Day of Hope and yes we are past the first Sunday of Advent

According to Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, the word Advent means “A coming; the coming of our Savior Jesus in the flesh as a new born baby and the second coming when Jesus will return to reconcile ALL things back to God the Father. It is celebrated the four Sundays before Christmas.”

Hope is a desire for something good with an expectation of receiving it. With HOPE there is joy. All of our hope and comfort comes by knowing Jesus and knowing that his resurrection proved that he overcame death.

Revelation 1:17-18 (NIV) is the foundation of our HOPE. “When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And, I hold the keys of death and Hades.” God has already won! That gives us HOPE.

In recent events, as American Christians we had hoped that our governing administration would take a turn toward the positive at the midterm elections. And even though it wasn’t as great of a red wave as we hoped for, we did regain some ground. That is HOPE. Many here attended the Farmer’s Day Parade in Ellerbe the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Seeing all those kids riding with parents and grandparents gave me hope that another generation of farmers are being taught the art and values of farming. That is HOPE. Hearing a 4 or 5-year-old child pray in front of adults at church, that gives me hope.

Look around at the children in your church.That right there is our HOPE, the HOPE of the church and the HOPE of God’s desire for us to continue as His chosen people. In the words of the song we all know by heart, Our HOPE is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

Romans 15:13 May the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in HOPE.