“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8, ESV). Our hope is in Jesus.
We celebrate at Christmas that Jesus came into this world; the light of the world.
“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1: 4-5, NIV).
“The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world” (John 1:9, NIV).
The prophet Isaiah had written about our Saviour many years before, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isaiah 9: 2, ESV). “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9: 6, ESV).
Our Saviour Jesus saves us from darkness. He “…became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1: 14, ESV). Joseph was told that they “shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21, ESV). Part of Mary’s response is that her “…spirit rejoices in God my Savior…” (Luke 1:47, ESV), “for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation” (Luke 1:49-50, ESV). Shepherds from that time were told that their Saviour had been born, “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2: 11, ESV).
Jesus is our Saviour, our Redeemer, our Restorer and even more to us.
In reflecting on that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8, ESV), we can be reassured that from generation to generation, Jesus saves us from sins. God shows us mercy, and is “…full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, ESV). God is so good, and His love for us is far greater than I think many of us can comprehend.
In John 3:15-17, we read:
“that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (NIV).
Jesus came not to condemn us, but to save us.
I am so encouraged that even despite my failures, there is hope. When I have messed up, God has shown me such mercy; His mercies are “new every morning” (Lamentations 3: 23, ESV). I then want to ask for His help to do my best, because I know it is good for me; for me to get it right the next time. I have noticed that sometimes people seem to lose hope, and feel all might be lost, because of their failures. They live in shame; feeling they are not good enough. But it is not over.
We have a hope of starting over; a hope of new beginnings. Even if we have not got it right in the past, there is hope. Hope of a change for good, even if it has been that way for a long time. Change can happen. Even if our lives have been affected by something out of our control in an unexpected way, we still have hope. Even if all things in the world around us seems lost; Jesus came to earth.
Jesus came to “…bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1, NIV). He came “to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor” (Isaiah 61:3, NIV).
Our Mighty King of Kings; glorious and holy. Jesus our Saviour, our Redeemer and our Restorer.
We have received a free gift of righteousness through Jesus (Romans 5:17, ESV). Our righteousness, not earned by ourselves, but given as a gift. Jesus is our hope. We have hope of a better now. Hope of a blessed day today and in the future. Our future is secure.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah 29:11-12, NIV)
We reach out to our Lord God, Who loves us so much. We can reach out to Him today. Even if things seem lost, we have hope in our Lord Jesus Who knows the plans He has for us. We live from the place of victory He won for us on the cross. Jesus came to restore our relationship with our Father God. Jesus Name is above all names. Jesus is Lord of all. Nothing is impossible with God (Luke 1:37); our miracle-working God.
There is none like our God. The Lord Jesus is coming to earth again, and in one of the many Scriptures about this, we read that “…the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, ESV). God wants us all to have obtained our salvation through Jesus Christ. “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, ESV).
Another Scripture relating to Jesus’ coming to earth again is that “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4, ESV).
In this world and in our situations that may seem hopeless, we have hope for today and for our future.
God loves us so much that He made a plan of redemption for us through Jesus Christ our Saviour. We can live an abundant life (John 10:10); be set free and restored. At Christmas time, we celebrate Jesus. Jesus is our hope. Our hope is in God.
Prayer
Dear Father God,
You are mighty to save! Praise Your Mighty Name. There is none like You.
We thank-You that You are the Mighty Creator of the heavens and earth, and You also care about the details of each of our lives. Thank-You for sending Your Son Jesus to be our Saviour. By grace we are saved through faith; the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).
As I reach out to You God and build my relationship with You, may I ask that You, my God of hope fill me with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit I may abound in hope (Romans 15:13, ESV).
Thank-You that I am set free in Jesus Name, and thank-You for helping me every step of the way as You lovingly work in my life, for me to be all You created me to be, uniquely me.
In Jesus Name, Amen.