The Blessed Hope
Paul, writing to his pastor friend Titus, refers to the “appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” as the “blessed hope.” What are we hoping for? For Jesus to appear. We celebrate Advent to nurture our waiting and hoping for Christmas, which celebrates Jesus’ first advent, which in turn nurtures our hopes for the second advent of Jesus.
Today, let’s be reminded of what this season is really about. It’s not the shopping or the holiday parties; it’s about Jesus. And we don’t just celebrate Jesus coming as a baby in the past. We celebrate by anticipating His return in the future, the hope that is most blessed.
Scriptures
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
My Soul Waits for the Lord
A Song of Ascents.
1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
2 O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord!
For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
8 And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.