Sat, Dec 5

The Blessed Hope

We do not like to wait. But in the hurry of the holiday season, we are invited to slow down during Advent and pay attention to what we are waiting for. What is it that we are ultimately waiting for? For those who have given their life to Jesus, it is for His return. Yes, there are a lot of other things we might be waiting for, but ultimately it’s Jesus’ return that we wait for.

In our reading, 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 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.

If you find yourself in a season of darkness, know that the Lord hears you and he will not fail you. We can trust God through any dark season of life because he is faithful. Cry to him out of the depths and know He hears you and will not forsake you!

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.

130 Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
    O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
    to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,
    O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness,
    that you may be feared.

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
    and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
    more than watchmen for the morning,
    more than watchmen for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the Lord!
    For with the Lord there is steadfast love,
    and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
    from all his iniquities.

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