Hope

So glad she knows about Hope!

One Christmas season when we were traveling and listening to Amy Grant singing “Love has come”. Suddenly, my three or four year old daughter pipes up from the back seat and says, “Daddy, why does Hope have a big gun?” Hope had begun! We all still laugh when we listen to this song and think about Hope’s big gun.

I read somewhere that hope begins in the dark and when I read the opening verses of the gospel of John, I think its true. “The Word became human and made his home among us”. Hope had begun. “and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness…” Hope began in the dark.

In Ezra chapters 9 and 10, we read of one of the many dark times in the story of God’s people. Ezra is lamenting the sins that had polluted the exiles after they have been freed. “O my God, I am utterly ashamed, I blush to lift up my face to you”. Despite the grace and mercy shown to them in both their rescue and their slavery, they have once again abandoned their God. Ezra prays, “And now, O our God, what can we say after all of this?”. Others join him in weeping in front of the newly restored Temple and they confess they have been unfaithful. Then I love what the people say to Ezra, “But in spite of this there is hope for Israel.” (10:2)

Even before the Word became human, his people found hope in his faithfulness. On our darkest nights, even in our utter shame, his light brings hope. Recently someone reminded me of something one of my Sunday School teachers would have us do when reading the stories of Israel. She would have us put our name in place of Israel. But in spite of this there is hope for Ronda! Whatever your “in spite of” is, there is hope! When the darkness of our world is overwhelming there is hope! But in spite of this. there is hope for our families, there is hope for our friends, there is hope for our churches, there is hope for our nation, there is hope!

For unto us a child is born, a light has shone, love has come and Hope has begun! And the darkness can never extinguish it! (John 1:5 NLT)

Try these verses from Psalm 130, substituting for Israel your name or the name of those you love.

O ________ , hope in the Lord; for with the Lord there is unfailing love.
His redemption overflows. He himself will redeem _______ from every kind of sin.

Hope may not carry a big gun but it comes loaded with unfailing love, unending mercy and redeeming grace!

“And his name will be the hope of all the world.” (Matthew 12:21 NLT)

　
Merry Christmas to all
May you experience hope

Thanks for listening
See you next Sunday,
Ronda
　
Love has come
For the world to know
As the wisemen knew
Such a long time ago
And I believe that the angels sang
That hope had begun
When the God of Glory
Who is full of mercy
Sent His Son
Click here to hear Amy sing about Hope's big gun!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUU_m7PMIyY&feature=related