Monday, December 2-Hope
Jeremiah 33:14-16
The Israelites were living in despair. They knew their time was over. Babylon was advancing on Jerusalem and Jeremiah had prophesied and grieved. They were doomed. In the middle space of waiting and grief and uncertainty, the Lord speaks with a word of hope and this hope is a person, “I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line.” From David’s line that was seemingly dead, God will bring life. God is able to bring life out of death. When all seems lost, God is still working, still faithful and the believer still stands. We all stand in a lot of middle spaces.
The holistic middle space of living between Jesus’ first coming and His second coming. Looking at the world and seeing the injustices and unrighteousness and remembering there is a hope that God has, is and will bring life to the dead spaces. We also stand in a lot of individual middle spaces of loss, grief, and fears that we carry. This promise still stands. In the middle of the darkness, there is light. In the middle of despair, there is hope.
In the middle of the waiting, there is a branch sprouting. In the middle of death, there is resurrection. This is the hope we stand on, a righteous branch will spring up. This is what carried the Israelites and what carries us today. May we stand in that hope and carry that hope to a world filled with hopelessness.
What areas of your life are you lacking hope?
How can you invite Jesus into those spaces?
PASTOR TABITHA MARTIN
Sunday, December 1-Hope
Luke 21:25-36 Family Devotional
28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
36 Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
“Watch for falling objects.” Driving through the mountains, there are often warning signs to alert drivers to the potential dangers ahead. The intention is to get drivers to “be always on the watch.” Read Luke 21:25-36 aloud and find the warning signs that Jesus gives to his disciples.
As I read through, I noticed two distinct kinds of dangers: external and internal.
Jesus warned of dangers that occur outside of us. These include international turmoil and natural disasters. For those dangers, Jesus encouraged his disciples to “stand up and lift up your heads.”
Jesus also warned of dangers that occur inside of us. These include worry, drunkenness and misbehaving with others. For those dangers, Jesus encouraged his disciples to “be always on the watch, and pray.”
In addition to these warnings and instructions on how to respond, Jesus gives his disciples the assurance that though “heaven and earth will pass away, my words will never pass away.” His instructions are timeless. His wisdom never wears out. His smartness never gets old. Stars may explode, nations may implode, but not Jesus’ truth.
So, Jesus’ words are kind of like the windshield of a car. We look through His wisdom at the dangers which he warned of. With God’s help, each of us can confidently stand today and on the day Jesus comes back.
So, at the start of this advent season, let’s do the two things that Jesus invited his disciples to do.
Stand up. Take a deep breath and look around. Jesus wanted his disciples to be confident in Him when outside dangers come around. Name some of the outside dangers of our day. Now say, “Jesus is greater than ____ (insert the dangers you named).”
Pray. Open your eyes and fold your hands. Name some of the things you worry about or struggle with. Ask Jesus to help you with whatever internal danger you are facing.
PASTOR JOSH KLEINFELD