Christmas Hope

As we speed along through the holidays, we begin to think about hope for the new year. There are two different kinds of hope:

The New Year hope, hopes FOR something and what we can do to make it happen. It says, “I hope I can lose ten pounds.” “I hope I can get a better job.” “I hope that relationship will work out.”

The Christmas hope, hopes IN Someone and what He can bring into our life. Big difference. This Christmas hope says, “Everything will work out – even if it is not the outcome I desire.” Hard stuff. But this is trusting in God, knowing He has our best in mind.

So how can we enter the New Year with the Christmas Hope?

Let’s look at an acrostic of H. O. P. E.

1. Hearing the message of Hope.

The heart of our Christmas celebration is that a baby was born and ushered into history with angels and shepherds and visiting wise men. This God Child grew to be our God Man who saves us from our messy, raggedy, sinful selves.

And the message of hope is . . . John 3:16. God loved us so much that He gave His only son to die in our place so that by believing in Him we could have eternal life.

Rom 10:14 says, “ . . . how can they hear (that message) without someone telling them?” There are those in your life who are thirsty to hear the message of Hope that Jesus offers, but they can’t hear what you don’t say!

Who do you tell? How do you tell? When do you tell?

2. Obeying the invitation of Hope.

What is this invitation of Hope? “That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Rom.10:9.

Like any invitation, the message of Hope must be received and accepted in order to be of value. God has sent each person an invitation to believe in Him and to follow Him, but we need to personally respond to God with a YES in order to activate and live into His offer.

Once we have received and accepted Christ as Lord of our life – we can begin:

3. Pursuing the power of Hope.

For our eternal future. Right here. Right now. This is the living HOPE. We are eternity people and we are living in eternity starting Now!

For our daily life. When you receive Jesus, you become a new creation in Christ. You have the power of hope for your every day circumstances.

For our past. Everyone has a story, and God brings power to “re-create” your story. Not the facts of it, but the meaning of it. Not your meaning, but God’s meaning.

Having pursued the power of Hope for yourself, the greatest gift you might give this Christmas is . . .

4. Extending that promise of Hope to another.

To whom might you extend this gift of Hope? A family member? A neighbor? A friend? And, what is the promise of Hope we are extending?

Simply this: We are sinners in need of a savior who are forgiven if we ask to be.

So, take that family member, friend or neighbor to Starbucks. Buy her a coffee and give her the gift of God’s message of hope, “You are not alone. God loves you and He will put Hope in your life.”

God bless you as we celebrate Jesus’ birthday together!