Advent Hope

What do you anticipate? When is the last time you longed for something? Many, Many times in the Bible God's people found themselves in a situation that made them long for deliverance from their situation. Many times God's people are portrayed as calling out to Him, seeking him…longing, waiting, hoping.

The first topic, the first focus of the Advent season is hope. We celebrated it this last Sunday. It is always the Sunday preceding Thanksgiving. And so we lit a candle of hope.

What do we hope for? Why in all of Christendom have we lit this candle for all these years? What do you hope for?

Is it presents? A certain present? A little something to make the journey here a little better, a little sweater, a little neater?

The Scriptures that we use as a guide for our lives indicate over and over again that hope and expectation are a part of our journey. Hope is not a concept that we now let go of because Christ has come. We are to be a people filled with hope. Hope because He is coming again. Things are not as they should be. This world is not our home.

As we enter this Holiday season we want to search out hearts to see if we are a people who reflect this hope.

If we have lost hope, if we have stopped looking forward, Why?

Worldliness, a fixation on this age, material possessions, money and joy here in the present may be one reason your life is no longer characterized by hope. We must remember It is foolishness to die holding onto what you cannot keep in exchange for what you cannot loose.

Another reason is sin, guilt and shame. Maybe some of us do not long to see our coming King because we are afraid. We know from the scriptures that there is nothing He does not know. If we have stooped to hiding in the shadows we have begun to fear the brilliance of His light.

It is our admonition that you strike the match and light the candle of hope in your life and world. Let the world see His forgiveness, cleansing, and restoration in your life. Let them see you once again long and look forward to the return of your King.

Let this Advent Season and reflection be a time of renewing the hope that needs to be present in the hearts of His people.