The Hope of Advent: Day 6
We have been considering the elements of hope, especially as they are seen in the Exodus story. One question I have as I read that story is this: “Why so much drama?” If God wanted to deliver His people, why a burning bush and weird signs and plagues and parting the sea? Surely there was an easier way that would not have necessitated so much human involvement.
The reason our participation in what God is doing is so important is that it strengthens our hope. Participation is to hope what momentum is to a snowball.
To put it another way: If I promised Ethan (my son) that I am going to build him a tree house, I could simply build it on my own while he is off playing and doing other things. He may think of the tree house now and then, but for the most part he will be preoccupied with whatever he is doing at the moment. And when it’s done he would no doubt enjoy it. But if I involve him in the building, everything changes. It’s on his mind. He thinks about it even when he is not doing it. He has a vested interest now. He has ownership in the outcome. And when it’s complete, his joy is far greater than if I had simply done it myself.
God invites our participation in what He has promised because He wants the promise to be on our minds. He wants us to have a vested interest. He wants our joy to be made full!
The hope of Israel was based on God’s promise. In the face of mystery they rooted themselves in the foundation of God’s might deeds throughout history. They saw themselves as the people of God, through which the Messiah would come, participants in the redemptive story written by God.
The writers of Scripture – and God himself -- want us to tell and retell the mighty deeds of God in history. They want us to lose ourselves in the redemptive story, and to discover our role as those who wait for and hasten the coming of Christ again (1 Peter 3:12).
To know that Christ is our hope is good doctrine. But to explore the Christ of our hope in story and symbol and practice is to work the truth of hope deep into the fabric of our being, where truth becomes meaningful and good doctrine becomes Good Life.
As we remember the coming of Jesus and anticipate his coming again, we participate in the kingdom at hand. We do not linger passively as those who wish for everything to suddenly be made right with our world, but rather as God’s people who usher in the kingdom to come ... on earth as it is in heaven.
Reflection and Prayer: We repent of all that keeps us form the work of God’s kingdom on earth (fear, insecurity, selfishness, ignorance, laziness, etc.), and we express our desire for God to use us in His works of mercy, reconciliation, justice, service, worship, etc. We are praying for God’s kingdom of come on earth – in our lives, our relationships, our church, and our city – as it is in heaven.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 51:1-12, Matthew 28:18-20, Matthew 5:13-16, 2 Thes. 2:16-17
The reason our participation in what God is doing is so important is that it strengthens our hope. Participation is to hope what momentum is to a snowball.
To put it another way: If I promised Ethan (my son) that I am going to build him a tree house, I could simply build it on my own while he is off playing and doing other things. He may think of the tree house now and then, but for the most part he will be preoccupied with whatever he is doing at the moment. And when it’s done he would no doubt enjoy it. But if I involve him in the building, everything changes. It’s on his mind. He thinks about it even when he is not doing it. He has a vested interest now. He has ownership in the outcome. And when it’s complete, his joy is far greater than if I had simply done it myself.
God invites our participation in what He has promised because He wants the promise to be on our minds. He wants us to have a vested interest. He wants our joy to be made full!
The hope of Israel was based on God’s promise. In the face of mystery they rooted themselves in the foundation of God’s might deeds throughout history. They saw themselves as the people of God, through which the Messiah would come, participants in the redemptive story written by God.
The writers of Scripture – and God himself -- want us to tell and retell the mighty deeds of God in history. They want us to lose ourselves in the redemptive story, and to discover our role as those who wait for and hasten the coming of Christ again (1 Peter 3:12).
To know that Christ is our hope is good doctrine. But to explore the Christ of our hope in story and symbol and practice is to work the truth of hope deep into the fabric of our being, where truth becomes meaningful and good doctrine becomes Good Life.
As we remember the coming of Jesus and anticipate his coming again, we participate in the kingdom at hand. We do not linger passively as those who wish for everything to suddenly be made right with our world, but rather as God’s people who usher in the kingdom to come ... on earth as it is in heaven.
Reflection and Prayer: We repent of all that keeps us form the work of God’s kingdom on earth (fear, insecurity, selfishness, ignorance, laziness, etc.), and we express our desire for God to use us in His works of mercy, reconciliation, justice, service, worship, etc. We are praying for God’s kingdom of come on earth – in our lives, our relationships, our church, and our city – as it is in heaven.
Scripture Reading: Psalm 51:1-12, Matthew 28:18-20, Matthew 5:13-16, 2 Thes. 2:16-17
posted by Will | 11:51 AM
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