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Devotions this week based on Sunday’s Message: Hope is the Heart of Christmas! (LISTEN HERE)

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Who’s in charge?

Elections have consequences.

We just went through mid-term elections to choose our next Senators and Representatives in the US House and Senate as well as local leaders and officials.  Perhaps some of these individuals were people you voted for and based on their campaign speeches and debates, you felt like they brought a policy to the government office that gives you a stronger hope for the future.

Who is in charge affects our feeling of hope (or hopelessness).

Elections are one thing.  How that person actually governs is another thing.  A candidate can bring great “hope” for the future, but do little to actually bring that hope to fruition.

What if we could have someone in charge that would always give us a reason for hope?

On this earth, not possible.  But look at what the prophet Isaiah spoke of in chapter 9:7

Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it

with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

We will always have human, secular government officials.  While some mistook Isaiah’s prophecy as a promise of a physical government led by God himself (similar to the theocracy of Israel during the time of Moses).  However, Jesus himself said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”

So what is the hope this verse of prophecy gives us?

With Jesus in charge, we can always have hope and always have peace…because he is in control. The Apostle Paul spoke of this:

Ephesians 1:19-23 That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Every governing official, whether they realize it or not, is operating under the auspices of God himself.  God is allowing and using secular governments to carry out his plans (just think of Caesar Augustus issuing a decree to tax that brought Jesus’ birth to Bethlehem).

The hope we can have – no matter what politician is in charge – is that we are most importantly part of God’s kingdom where there is perfect righteousness and justice forever.  God will always rule on our behalf and will always accomplish what is best for us.

Apply: What hope do you have knowing the Lord is in control over all world affairs?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for assuring us that all things are under your control and you guide all things for the benefit of us, your people, the Church.  AMEN.

Devotions this week based on Sunday’s Message: Hope is the Heart of Christmas! (LISTEN HERE)

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When you are in a challenging spot, you look for hope in someone or something outside of yourself.

If in financial challenges, you may seek a financial coach or investment advisor to guide you.  

If you are stuck in the mud and can’t get yourself out, you may call a tow truck with the strength to pull you out.

When you are worried and upset, you may seek the counsel and advice of  your parents who have gone through similar situations before.

People give us hope when they come with something we need and don’t have.

Isaiah prophesied (9:6) of the one who would come in the manger of Bethlehem:

6  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

It is easy to read quickly over these titles that are given to Jesus.  Read them slowly:

Wonderful Counselor

Mighty God

Everlasting Father

Prince of Peace

It’s hard to think of a situation in life that would cause us to lose hope that one of these descriptive words or concrete concepts wouldn’t once again bring us hope.  It’s a matter of turning to our Savior to find that hope.

Wonderful Counselor: Amazing advisor.  From our Savior we get insights and advice to guide us through the most challenging situations…we just need to read it and listen to it and put it into practice.  Of all the counsel one could receive, the most impactful and spot-on is that which comes from the Wonderful Counselor.  Think of the Proverbs and all the wisdom they contain.  Think of the promise Jesus gave to send the Counselor to remind the disciples of all things.  The Scriptures are full of wisdom that God presents to us to give us hope when earthly wisdom fails.

Mighty God: More powerful than anyone and anything.  The almighty God spoke this world into existence in six days.  Enough said, right?  He calmed the storms, healed the sick, raised the dead, drove out demons.  Nothing in this world or in the spiritual realm is more powerful than the Lord himself.  Let’s not only call on him in the day of trouble…but every day, no matter what the need is!

Everlasting Father: History gives hope…we looked at that on Monday.  Why? Because past events tend to repeat and have patterns.  How much more does the Father who loves us and calls us his children give us not only the perspective of time, but the perspective of eternity!  From eternity he knew you and has placed you in a moment of time for just the right purpose.  When we keep this eternal perspective and the relationship we have with God himself, hope springs eternal!

Prince of Peace: Every ruler has a legacy…the legacy Jesus brings is peace.  Not always between people, but between God and people.  The biggest rift in human history is repaired by the life, death and resurrection of the one born in the manger of Bethlehem.  Life in chaos? Remember our biggest problem is solved in Jesus…let your heart be at peace as you deal with the issues of today.

What a tremendous resume the “child born to us” has!  Each of them by themselves would bring hope…all of them together?…we can be filled with hope!

 

Apply: What descriptor of God is most real to you today?  How does that reality of God give you hope?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for being the person to whom we can turn when we lose hope.  For in you we find counsel, power, love, and peace.  Thank you! AMEN.

Devotions this week based on Sunday’s Message: Hope is the Heart of Christmas! (LISTEN HERE)

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What leads you to lose hope?

Perhaps you lose hope when what was promised didn’t happen.  You were hoping for a non-rainy day, and the weather report said it wouldn’t rain…but it did.  You might lose hope that the weather report will be correct.

Perhaps you have hope that your investments will go up and you will be able to retire when you are 65.  When a recession hits shortly before retirement, you lose hope that you will have enough saved to step back from work.

Hope seems to be missing in our world today.

News reports flaunt the darkness of evil and sin in our world.  Murders, recession, corruption, theft, and more make up the headlines with barely a mention of any good news.  Inflation and cost of living increases and challenges our daily purchasing of what we need to live and survive.  Conflicts in relationships at work or in our families make it hard to even want to go through the holiday season.  Nations are at war and governments seem willing to create chaos inorder to gain whatever is in their interests.

Where is the hope in these realities?

Perhaps before we answer that question this morning, here’s the bottom line of what leads us to lose hope: sin and living in a sinful world.

Sin is the root of evil, brokenness and more.  It leads to disruption in the world, our communities, our families, and yes, in our own hearts.

Sin leaves us without hope because its effects are negative and the future it produces are negative.  

Jesus in talking to Nicodemus said, John 3:19 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”

Darkness, evil, sin leave us without hope.

So to have true and lasting hope, we need a solution for sin.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[a] Christ Jesus our Lord.

We can look to earthly solutions for hope to spiritual problems, but the reality is that every human/earthly solution will fail us.  It’s what dashes hope when we put our hope in mankind to solve what really is a spiritual problem.

When we realize what leads us to lose hope is a spiritual problem, we look for a solution that will solve it.

That’s why Jesus came into the world.  He didn’t come with the promise that every financial challenge would be overcome or every relationship issue solved or every sickness healed, but he did come with the promise that he would overcome sin and its consequences.

For that reason we have hope.

Psalm 33:22 May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

Apply: What is causing you to lose hope?  What is the spiritual issue connected with that reality?  What promise of God can you grasp to again have hope?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for bringing hope when I feel hopeless.  AMEN.

Devotions this week based on Sunday’s Message: Hope is the Heart of Christmas! (LISTEN HERE)

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Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

History gives hope.

A cancer patient has hope because history has shown that 80% of people with that type of cancer will go into remission.

A person struggling financially because 90% of people with their skill set are gainfully employed.

A student wrestling with grades realizes that many millionaires never had above a “C” average in school.

History gives hope.

In our secular world, we look at historical percentages.  How many people…? (Fill in the blank).  If a high percentage of people in the past have had a positive outcome, we have hope that we will have that same positive outcome.

History gives hope.

In this verse from the Apostle Paul, he too realizes that not only does history provide hope, but God’s story, God’s history gives hope.

How so?  The stories of Scripture, the people named, and the situations in which they found themselves are all recorded to underscore the faithfulness, power, and ability of God almighty to deliver hope to his people.

Consider Abraham…promised to be the Father of great nations, yet did not have a son.  God fixed that with a miracle birth to Sarah.

Consider Joseph…sold into slavery away from his family, yet God orchestrated events so he would be second in command of all Egypt to preserve the lives of many people.

Consider Israel traveling to Babylon as a consequence for sin, yet God did not abandon them, but allowed them to return to rebuild the city and temple in Jerusalem.

Consider God’s chosen people to whom a Messiah was promised, and to whom God fulfilled that promise in Jesus.

The list could go on.  Why did the Spirit of God choose to record all these people, stories, and conversations?

So we could have hope.

How so?

In the lives of the real people, in real situations, in a real moment in time God’s promises were shown to be real, his power revealed to be present, and his love remaining always faithful.

The accounts of past events give us true and certain hope that the unchanging God in whom we trust will encourage us and give us endurance when we need it in the moment in time in which we live.

History, God’s story, gives us hope.

 

Apply: Which Bible story gives you hope and encouragement when hope seem absent or distant?

Prayer: Lord, thank you for never leaving your people without hope.  Thank you for recording the events of people and the hope you gave them so we might receive encouragement from them.  AMEN.

I love a good deal.

A well-known financial guru once said, “Never pay full price.”

Black Friday is a day of deals.  Admittedly, they are much easier to get as you can sit behind your computer screen and click “Add to Cart” pretty easily.  It is much different from the era of getting up at 4-5am and getting in line at the store with the deal you wanted, rushing to the spot to grab the item and then trying to get checked out so you could get to the next store that opened before it opened.

I love a good deal.

But one thing that still sits oddly in juxtaposition to Thanksgiving is Black Friday.

Why?

It seems to me that as soon as we are done giving thanks for what we have been given, advertisers are there to make us discontent with what we have.  In the days of newspaper advertising, the Thanksgiving paper was THE biggest to deliver, sometimes taking two loads because it was stuffed with advertisements.

Where is your heart this morning?

If you are up early getting the “good deals” – as I said, “I love a good deal.”  Nothing wrong with a good deal.  However, where is your heart this morning?

Are the thoughts of Thanksgiving a distant memory?  Is your heart feeling pressured to buy something that maybe you don’t need, but it is a good deal?  Or is your heart feeling discontent with what you were grateful for yesterday, and needing more today?

I don’t mean to spoil your Black Friday deals, but I am sharing what my heart needs, and what I’m guessing your heart could benefit from as well.

Learn gratitude and contentment…every day.

Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

Contentment is realizing the Lord has provided what I need for today.

Contentment is a condition of the heart that trusts in the Lord, not in material things.

Contentment is knowing my biggest problem in life is taken care of by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

Contentment is shopping for a good deal to be a good steward of God’s gifts without allowing that item to cause sadness or joy if I get it or not.

Contentment allows me to be generous in giving to the Lord and others, because my security is not in my stuff.

Contentment flows from a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving.

Contentment realizes the LORD is good and his mercy endures forever…and lives each day in that reality.

So enjoy whatever activity you have planned today…even if it getting up early and standing in line to get a deal.  However, don’t let the heart of Thanksgiving leave you for a heart of discontent, rather let the heart of Thanksgiving and gratitude give you always a heart of contentment.

Apply: Don’t just pay attention to the deals today, pay attention to your heart and where it’s focus is resting.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for all things.  Lead us to live each day with a heart of gratitude, generosity and contentment.  AMEN.