Romans 15:4-13
Christmas Hope
The first Christmas I remember really hoping for a specific gift from Santa, I believe I was 6, I hoped so much for a bicycle. Our little neighborhood had mostly all boys who played daily together. The olders had bikes and rode off leaving the youngers to stare with yearning for the freedom and the thrill of rapid mobility. Santa granted my wish and I experienced the joy of hope fulfilled.
In Paul's letter to the Church in Rome, he said the "the steadfast encouragement of the scriptures gives us hope" The Oxford Dictionary defines hope as a noun, a feeling of expectation and a desire for a certain thing to happen. A feeling of trust (it will happen). Paul tells us our hope is in Christ, "who came as a servant to the Jews to show God's truthfulness and confirm promises to the patriarchs and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy." Paul goes on to quote Isaiah "the root of Jesse shall come, he who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope."
In Christ we have the ultimate expectation coupled with trust in God for "all the joy and peace in believing, so that by the power in the Holy Spirit" we may abound in hope. Like that little boy who went to bed hoping and believing joy would spring forth with the morning light, we should believe in the hope promised and given by God through Jesus Christ.
~ Charlie Biter