Advent 2020Sample

Here is our God! We have hope! Rejoice! Our present, in 2020, has been full of challenges, but as we mark the days leading up to Christmas, we are rejoicing as we take some time to focus on the hope we have both now and in the future because of Jesus. And as we realize that we, his body, are part of his solution plan for our world, that hope we find in him becomes our present to share with the world. But what is hope? In times where we are more likely to have our hearts crying out in lament at the loss, suffering and uncertainty in our lives and in our world, what does this hope mean? The psalmist points us to the unfailing love of the Lord. "But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love." (Psalm 33:18) Our hope, then, is in his unfailing love for us – the perfect love that casts out our fear of being alone, defeated, unable. The deep and overwhelming love that saw God lay aside his majesty, to wear the frailty of a man. The love that sacrificed the only begotten son of the Father. For us. Because of hope, we do not grow weary of doing good. We build up our faith, trusting that our hope is not an empty wish and that we are called to action. That we will see an end to injustice and poverty. We live with a certain expectation that we are not alone – that our God is able and willing to move in power. We move forward, unwilling to give up, because we know the love that never leaves us, even in our darkest moments. We trust the promise of our God that he never abandons us. The promise of the perfect present given to us that first Christmas. Our Jesus. Our hope. Do not be afraid. There is good news. Here is our God!