Christmas Hope

Time zoomed by these last few weeks. I last posted on December 7. Somewhere I lost two weeks in the midst of Chrismas shopping, parties, and special times with grandkids. But it's been a joyful time!

Instead of doing part two of The Irony of Work, I'm compelled to focus on the magnificent hope we have because of Christmas. I left yesterday's church service with my head in the clouds - the clouds of heaven.

Christmas season hits some people like a hammer blow, leaving them bruised and battered. Illness, loss of a job, family disputes, or the death of a loved one can rob us of our Christmas hope.

Today let's walk above our circumstances. Read this slowly and let the hope sink into your heart.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away,, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.2 Cor 4:16-18

Our troubles may seem neither light nor momentary unless viewed in the context of eternity. Jesus coming to earth as a baby, dying on a cross for our sins and then rising again confirms the reality that our troubles are light and momentary.

The pain we feel, the suffering we experience now will someday be gone. This is our Christmas hope:

And I heard a loud voice saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live wth them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Rev 21:3-4

When painful circumstances threaten to overwhelm us, let's turn our thoughts to the eternal glory God has in store for us and the joy we'll experience when God wipes away all our tears.

Father, we praise you that Jesus came as a baby to die for our sins so that we could be forever reconciled to you. Help us focus on our eternal future with you as we celebrate his birth this week.

I pray for all of those who are living through painful times this week. Please comfort them and give them your peace.

In Jesus' precious name,
Amen