121 AdventSample

The Source of Hope

What does it look like to hope, in an earthly sense? When you find yourself hoping for a specific outcome, for a change in circumstances or a favorable result, what emotions are present? Are you fearful? Insecure? Anxious? Earthly hope is often ridden with anxiety. We are either biting our lip hoping our team makes that final free throw, or we're up in the middle of the night hoping to hear from an estranged friend. We worry things won’t turn out the way we want or even the way we’ve planned. But this is unlike the hope that we have in God.

Most often our hope wavers because it is rooted in an act of will and therefore lacks a stable foundation. In the examples previously mentioned, our hope is in a player or a friend. We can’t be sure that they will act in a certain way, or if they do, that they will succeed. But Biblical hope lacks no such certainty. It is confident and fully assured because it is rooted in the faithfulness of God, that is it’s source. This is most evidenced in God's provision for us in Christ. We look toward the fulfillment of all His promises in Scripture, and particularly to the return of Christ, knowing that His character is defined by unwavering faithfulness. He is unchanging, He is for us (Romans 8:31), and He is working things out for our good (Romans 8:28).

Where is your hope rooted? What characteristics of God can you rest your hope in today?

Families With Young Children

Read Lamentations 3:21-24. KIDS, What can give us hope? (knowing the Lord loves us very much and that His love never fails, the Lord is forever faithful and gives us everything we will ever need) When we have hope in things that can fail us, such as people and things of this earth, we can be disappointed. However, if we ultimately put our hope in Jesus above all else, we will have a firm foundation. Where does your hope stand? How has God shown His love for you? How has He provided all of your needs? How has He been faithful to you? Ask your parents these same questions.

Read Jeremiah 33:14-16. KIDS, What promise was God telling the people to have hope in? (the coming of Christ, salvation through Jesus) This was written by Jeremiah who was one of the prophets God used to tell about the coming of Jesus long before he was born. He said the coming Savior would be from the line of David and a righteous branch. The word branch is similar to a code word that the prophets used to describe the Savior. Isaiah and Zechariah also called the coming Messiah a branch. What are some characteristics of God? Which ones do you find your hope in today?