“…Christ in you the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27 (NIV)
Hope is an interesting word. In contemporary, English hope is “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” It is wishing for certain things to come true. In Christian theology hope is a certainty based on the character of God and the authority of His word. It is the assurance that God will bring about all that He has promised for His world, His creation, and His people.
In that tiny baby, laying in the manager, that first Christmas, was the hope of the world. Hope “in expectation and desire” and “hope” in deliverance. That tiny, helpless baby would grow into a strong and healthy man who would undergo a cruel execution to set our world free. In Jesus’ death on the cross, He paid the price for sin to restore the effects of the fall. The crucial part is that people need to understand what that hope is all about, that it is found only in trusting Christ and His atoning work at Calvary. The hope of Christmas is there for all who will rely on Him. The Incarnation is “the answer” for all ages and all situations. It is our “hope of glory.” As the Christmas carol states, “The hope and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.” Thank you, Jesus, for meeting our “hopes and fears.” We love you!
Prayer: Father, we thank you this day for the “hope of Christmas.” That hope is found in the baby lying in a manger. Jesus entered our word helpless and dependent on others. He will come again as King. Help us, this day Father, to discover, once again, the hope of Christmas. A hope that will not disappointment but will take us all the way to our Heavenly home. As your word declares, “May the God of hope fill (us) with all joy and peace as (we) trust in him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:14 (NIV) We ask this in Jesus' name – Amen
