Advent Devotions 2017
Day Four
Hope
December 6, 2017
Believing in Hope
I recently made a trip to Macy’s in search of “just the right Christmas gift.” As I entered the store, plastered in big red letters for all to see, was one simple word: Believe. WOW, what a profound and prophetic statement in an increasingly self-focused, materialistic society! I’m sure this allegorical marketing statement “hits the mark” with a variety of demographics. The marketing department probably did not intend their message to be interpreted as I have. But to me, it fully describes our celebration of this Advent and Christmas season.
Do I believe? You bet! What do I believe? That speaks to the core of what we anticipate during Advent. I believe in the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as prophesied in the Old Testament and made manifest in the New Testament. Think about it: God being born of a woman is an impossibility without God’s direct intervention into our world. It is no less of a miracle than the creation of Adam, the first human, by God at the beginning of time.
I believe that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ lived and died for the forgiveness of our sins. Christ took upon himself the sins of all humanity, for all time. Millennia before we were born, Christ died for our sins. Through him we have hope for salvation, and because of his birth and entry into our humanity, we have hope in this season.
(John 3:36) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.
(John 20:29) Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”
After the Christmas season passes, Macy’s will put their big red “Believe” sign back into storage until next year. As Christians, do we ever put our “believe” sign away? Absolutely not! I would like to see that big red sign posted right on the front of every church throughout our country –and every Christian in all their day-to-day activities: Believe. This belief brings hope, and hope brings us peace, love, and joy – we anticipate in belief and hope this season!
Share with me this very short and simple prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me to write this upon my heart every day as I seek to be your child: “I BELIEVE.” Amen and amen!
Written by Tom Gilsdorf
Art by Allie
