The Season of Advent
The Season of Advent
Anticipation and Hope
Adventus is the Latin word for "coming", and is the exact Latin equivalent for the Greek word parousia, commonly used in reference to the Second Coming.
- Hope
This seems like something that is extinct, like the dinosaur. We are lacking Hope today. But why is this important?
Hebrews 11: Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. NIV
Proverbs 13: 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. NIV
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. NIV
Global warming, chemical bombardment, terrorists, loveless people, corrupt governments, inflation, genetic manipulation, poverty, wars….
How can we have hope today? Because of Him. “as you trust in him”.
I don’t know how, but he will.
Hope is not only a survival thing, but also and anticipation of something better. This is something that only God can give. Not people. I can be encouraged when I find a good person, but Hope comes from the Lord.
Hope is not wishing – wishing has not anticipation element.
Hope is the goal of my faith. When I lose it, my faith comes to a screeching halt. Nothing to do. The hope of something better keeps us going on. (I saw people standing in a shopping line that was over a kilometer long, they stood in hope that what they wanted would be there when they got in the store)
Have you allowed this world to steal your hope? Have we maybe placed our hope is someone or something other than God and thereby been bitterly disappointed? Have we caught the spirit of hopelessness from the hopeless and live with no anticipation of something better?
Let’s go to the source today and let God restore our hope in him.
Psalm 121: 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. NIV
My help comes from who I place my hope in. If I hope in man I will be continually disappointed, but if I place my hope in God, he will not disappoint.
Prayer – God of Hope restore our hope in you today.