Hope
OPENING PRAYER:
Jesus, remind us of the gift of hope that you bring to us.
READ:
“Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
REFLECT:
With the first candle of the Advent wreath, we remember the prophets who were faithful to deliver the messages they received from God – messages foretelling the coming of a Savior and the hope that He would bring to the world.
Our world is groaning, and we often wait with tempered expectations – hoping for the best but planning for the worst.
APPLY:
Jesus’s life on earth is the reason that our hope does not have to be cautious. In the world, the word “hope” is not much more than a wish. In the eternal-thinking way of Christ, the word “hope” is so much more – it is a confident trust. We hope and trust because we know who is writing our story and we know what is unshakeable, no matter the circumstances – the precious, unequivocal love of God – a good God whose Son defeated flesh and death to bring us hope of an eternity with our Creator.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Jesus, help us see the difference between the hope of this world and the hope you provide. Make this evident to us today.
CONTINUED READING:
John 3:16-17
WORSHIP: