The Hope of Advent: Day 2
Yesterday marked the beginning of the Advent season for our church. Some of us had already been making preparations. Others discovered it as they tried to figure out the purpose of all the candles and purple lights. Either way, the journey has begun and all are welcome— beckoned even— to come along.
By way of reminder, the themes of Advent are hope, peace, joy, and love. In addition to preaching on these topics each week, the focus of our daily readings and reflection will also follow these themes form week to week.
We begin with hope (click here if you’d like to hear yesterday's sermon on hope)
Hope is the confident expectation that what God has done in the past guarantees our participation in what God has promised to do in the future. Further, hope has elements like a story has elements. So we experience hope personally as we are interact with its elements.
True hope involves a promise ... specifically, God’s promises to His people. These are the treasures of Scripture to be had by anyone who searches them. Consider these promises from Scripture:
Genesis 12:1-3
The LORD said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
Exodus 3:9-10
“The cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
Isaiah 40:3-5
A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
John 14:1-3
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Colossians 3:3-4
You died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
More promises: Forgiveness (1 John 1:9), Sanctification (Phil 1:6, 1 Peter 1:3-4), Provision (Matt 6:21-23), Fruitfulness (Ephesians 2:10).
Questions for Reflection: Do we know and cherish the promises of God? Are we eagerly awaiting their fulfillment? What longings do we have that are not rooted in the promises of God? What thoughts do you have about hope for our community to consider?
By way of reminder, the themes of Advent are hope, peace, joy, and love. In addition to preaching on these topics each week, the focus of our daily readings and reflection will also follow these themes form week to week.
We begin with hope (click here if you’d like to hear yesterday's sermon on hope)
Hope is the confident expectation that what God has done in the past guarantees our participation in what God has promised to do in the future. Further, hope has elements like a story has elements. So we experience hope personally as we are interact with its elements.
True hope involves a promise ... specifically, God’s promises to His people. These are the treasures of Scripture to be had by anyone who searches them. Consider these promises from Scripture:
Genesis 12:1-3
The LORD said to Abram, "Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."
Exodus 3:9-10
“The cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
Isaiah 40:3-5
A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
John 14:1-3
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Colossians 3:3-4
You died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
More promises: Forgiveness (1 John 1:9), Sanctification (Phil 1:6, 1 Peter 1:3-4), Provision (Matt 6:21-23), Fruitfulness (Ephesians 2:10).
Questions for Reflection: Do we know and cherish the promises of God? Are we eagerly awaiting their fulfillment? What longings do we have that are not rooted in the promises of God? What thoughts do you have about hope for our community to consider?
posted by Will | 12:34 PM
2 Comments:
I know for me that believing the promise of forgiveness always comes easier than believing God's promises for sanctification. It is easy for me to think that God will forgive me (probably because my view of my own sin is very small...which is a whole other issue...) But when it comes to me being changed, i always seem to forget that He has the power to change my heart and my actions. That he can transform my heart of stone (which has become that way because of my small view of sin and failure to repent) into a heart of flesh.
i heard a saying once from some smart dudes...you cannot be what you are not becoming. i am grateful that those smart dudes cared enough about my soul to spur me to take the first steps...to help me understand how sanctification works and that they have shown me what it means to believe this promise. but ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit who sanctifies me. who is sanctifying me and who will continue this good work in me until completion.
That's a good word, Patrick. Thanks for sharing.
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