Today's Readings: Genesis 6:9–22; Psalm 18; Matthew 24:27–44
“Hope.” This is a word we hear often in this Advent season. While the definition of hope may seem concrete, the feelings and responses because of the hope we have can vary. We know that some put their hope in the assurance the world offers and others place their hope securely in the work of the cross. Where you place your hope matters—better yet, who you place your hope in matters. While we long to hope for something beyond our own ability, it still requires a trust and a level of “knowing” of that in which we place our hope. Thanks be to God that he is patient with his sheep and allows us to build a trust in Him and to know Him personally. His Word proves time and time again of His grace over his people. And while his grace is abundant, let us not be quick to neglect the truth that there is a time of judgement that will come as well. In this Advent season, our hearts can find hope in His coming and be at peace with his judgment. It would appear foolish to the world that we find hope in God’s judgment. But we see in Psalm 18 that David describes both the wrath of God in defending his holiness and the grace of God in the defending of David. The judgment of God is deliverance for those who are found righteous; for those who wait on him. Because not one of us knows the time of this coming and this judgment, God finds delight in the one who waits, who hopes. If Christ is to come like a thief in the night, will he find you waiting? In Genesis we see that as Noah walks with the Lord, he waits on him. Not knowing when the flood waters are coming, he waits and finds hope knowing God will provide a way out. Friends, rejoice in the everlasting truth that God, through Jesus, has provided a way out for you—that in Christ you can have life to the fullest as we wait on our Lord. It would be easy to allow ourselves to slip into the fret of this season and this pandemic, to let our eyes wander, or to grow weary in the waiting. But I encourage you instead to lean into the hope that our God gives us that he will come for his people and yet he will defend his people in the waiting. Because of whom you place your hope in, I pray your response during this season would glorify the Father!
