Hope in Jesus
By now almost everyone knows the story of Jesus: from conception to birth and his 33-year life span on earth. Each year millions of people flock to churches to re-live the greatest story ever told and feel the warmth and love of our Lord and Savior. I am not going to replay that story, but rather I want to tell you the end result. Hope in eternal life and our salvation through Jesus who sacrificed and suffered so we could all live with Him forever. He lives inside us on earth and in our Spirit form in heaven; our new bodies, where there is no pain, suffering, or tears, only joy and freedom!
If you want to understand Jesus’ story, you need only read the four Gospels where Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell us about His ministry and life, each from a different perspective, but definitely the same story written without any collaboration. The fact that their stories are so similar tells us the truth and everything we need to know. If you want to re-live the birth of Christ, the glorification from angels, humans, and animals, read Matthew 1:18-2:23 for a detailed account, and/or Luke 2:1-21 for a more summarized version.
Let us reflect on the warmth in our hearts we feel every year as we celebrate the birth of Christ. Most people experience a very special feeling at this time each year and we become more loving, generous, happy, lighthearted, and in the mood to celebrate. What exactly makes us all feel this way? For one, the synergy of billions of people focusing positive energy toward one another shows us the power kindness and love bestow upon the entire earth, something we should emulate year-round.
Most importantly though, most of us feel hope as we remember and celebrate the birth of our Savior! It reminds us that no matter what our circumstances…rich and poor alike, God came to earth to live among ALL of us to teach us how to live a righteous and godly life. He taught us that we are filled with hope for a better life and future in Him! We are reminded that He lives in us and He never forsakes us.
We can recognize and feel who He is being displayed in our own behavior, knowing that we are created in His image and are children of God. We are never alone or left without comfort and love. For He who created us, sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, telling us right from wrong and urging us down the path and into the plan of what God has planned for our lives.
HOPE. Hope that there is a plan, direction, purpose, and happiness for all of us who believe. HOPE for the forgiveness of sins and long-suffering by our patient and loving Creator. Hope that yesterday doesn’t have to be our tomorrow and that the answer lies inside of us, waiting for us to grasp onto Him, repent, and start communing with, and listening to, the Holy Spirit. Here are a few scriptures about hope:
Psalm 33:18 – But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love. (He knows your needs. He loves you…agape love! Trusting Him = hope)
Psalm 147:11 – The LORD delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. (The Lord KNOWS what you need. Respect, trust, and lean on Him completely)
Proverbs 13:12 – Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is the tree of life. (Without hope we feel downhearted and sad, but hope in our hearts connects us with God causing delight)
Romans 12:12 – Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Romans 15:4 – For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 15:51-54 – Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, (sleep is an ancient term for death) but we will all be changed--in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." (HOPE for eternal life is found in the resurrection of Jesus!)
Ephesians 1:18 – I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints.
1 Peter 1:13 -- Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
Jesus gives us hope. Hope that fills our hearts with optimism and joy. He was sent here to teach us the godly principles that we should all know innately, but we rebelled. Instead of destroying us, as God contemplated in Genesis 6, He decided to come to us, showing us how to live, pray, and believe in miracles. He taught us that we can all have eternal life with Him if we believe in Him, and accept the free gift of His love. Yes, we must BELIEVE, but after believing we are constantly edified (strengthened) in our hope for the life He planned, and nudges us toward living.
Without the first Christmas, and the next 33, we would never know hope, and our lives would flounder without purpose or direction. Jesus = Hope and Christmas is a special time each year we can feel the excitement hope creates! May God bless us all as the Holy day of Jesus’ birth approaches once again! Celebrate, be thankful, and most importantly, pass on your hope to others who feel discouraged and hopeless!
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Love, hugs, and blessings, Lisa ><>