Hope for the New Year 2022

Besides peace and joy, hope is another word that gets overworked at Christmas. It is quite natural that the word hope would be very big at this time of the year. Christmas is after all the birthday of Jesus Christ. The arrival of a new baby is a time of hope. This was certainly the case with Jesus Christ, the long-awaited Messiah and Savior. He represents the hopes and aspirations of many who believe. On the eighth day after his birth, Jesus was dedicated by his parents in the Temple. Eight days after Christmas is the first day of our New Year. Along with Christmas, the arrival of the New Year brings renewed hopes and expectations for peace and prosperity. So it is no wonder that many holiday cards make mention or use the word hope.

A lot of people, including my grandchildren, hoped for certain things at Christmas (and dropped big hints)! Many others are hoping for particular things in the New Year: the end of the pandemic, a job, increased business, new or improved relationships. Much of what we call hope is in reality wishful thinking. The biblical concept of hope is not mere expectation or desire. Biblical hope is confident expectation; it is trust in God. The New Testament uses several adjectives with the word hope. There is “good” hope (II Thess. 2:16), “blessed” hope (Titus 2:13), a “better” hope (Heb. 7:19), and “living” hope (I Peter 1:3).

Would you like to have more of the biblical hope, which is a sure thing versus wishful thinking? Be careful before you answer this question. Reread what Paul wrote in Romans Chapter 5, “We rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (v. 3 & 4). Did you get the progression mentioned in these verses: suffering, perseverance, character then hope? Paul also mentions to the Thessalonians their “endurance inspired by hope.” (I Thess. 1:3).

The New Testament uses the word hope in conjunction with several different things. There is hope in the future. Numerous times the Apostle Paul mentions to the various people he is writing, that he hopes to visit them soon (Rom. 15:24, I Cor. 16:7, I Tim. 3:14). To the Philippians, Paul hopes to send Timothy (2:23). Sometimes he adds the phrase, “if God wills…” We should always think this regarding our plans whether we consciously state it or not. One thing we can be certain about is the “hope of eternal life” (See I Thess. 4:13, Titus 1:2 & 3:7).

There is hope in God. The ground upon which our hope is based is of course “the God of hope” (Rom. 15:13). “We have put our hope in the living God who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe” (I Tim. 4:9-10). We ought to trust in God, not countries, corporations, or money (See I Tim. 5:5 & 6:17).Lastly, there is hope in Jesus Christ. The fountain head of hope is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. “In God’s great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Peter 1:3). “Christ in you is the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). “Christ Jesus is our hope” (I Tim. 1:1). “I/we hope in the Lord Jesus” (Phil. 2:19). His return is indeed “the blessed hope” (Titus 2:13).

Faith and hope are linked together. “Now faith is being sure of what we hoped for and certain of what we do not see” (Heb. 11:1). May you experience your hopes in 2022.

 

The Greatest Sacrifice

What is Memorial Day? It is a legal holiday the last Monday in May in memory of the dead service personnel of all the wars. Unfortunately, to many people, Memorial Day is just the third day of a holiday weekend that sort of begins the summer season. It is a time for people to get together with family and friends, open the pool or put in the boat, and cook a meal on the grill. All those things are fine in and of themselves but like other special days such as Christmas and Easter we should pause and reflect upon the true meaning of the holiday.

In just this century alone there have been two World Wars in addition to the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf Wars and many other conflicts. In these wars many people have died in service for our country. The soldiers, sailors and marines who died sacrificed themselves for others. Along with suffering and dying a violent death they gave up two thirds to three quarters of their lives along with their dreams, hopes and plans. All of these people were someone's loved ones and friends. Let us remember them and their families. Their loved ones also experienced loss. They lost the time they would have shared with these people and everything that goes along with a lifetime of experiences. People may quickly forget the death of someone who was just a statistic but their families miss them at holidays and other special events including their birthdays.

Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13). It has been said that soldiers ultimately die not so much for their country but for their comrades. Jesus did what he said is the greatest act of love; he laid down his life for us. Who are the friends of Jesus? He answered this in the next verse which reads, "You are my friends if you do what I command" (v. 14). This may sound like we are only his friends if we do what he expects of us but we should remember what his disciple John wrote about obedience: "This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. This is love for God: to obey his commands" (1 John 5:2-3). True love is more than mere words--it involves actions. If we love God and others we will show it by deeds.

The amazing thing about Christ's sacrifice is that he did this before we knew him: "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:6-8).

Jesus was "the Good Shepherd who laid down his life for the sheep" (John 10:11). There is a parallel between Jesus' death which is remembered whenever we participate in communion and Memorial Day. In both cases we should take the time to pause and remember the sacrifice that was made for us. We should also sacrifice ourselves either by giving of our lives through service to others in our country or in the Church.

Gratitude - the Correct Attitude

One of the Gospel stories that always captured my interest was the account of Jesus healing the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19). Leprosy today has pretty much been eradicated except in some limited areas of the third world. However in biblical times it was a dreaded disease that affected many regardless of their standing in life.

Once someone was determined to have leprosy, they were forced to separate from their homes and families. As a result they usually ended up living with other lepers and supported themselves by begging.

In Luke's Gospel, the details are as follows: As Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem from Galilee he came to a village and outside the town a group of ten men who had leprosy called out to him, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" Lepers were required to stay at a distance since people did not want to come in contact with them and maybe contract the disease. When Jesus saw them he said, "Go show yourself to the priests." As they went, they were cleansed. One of the man, when he saw he was healed, came back praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him.

Jesus asked, "Were not all then cleansed? Where are the other nine?" What has always impressed me is that only one out of the ten bothered to take the time and effort to say "thank you." It seems that asking for help or for more of this or that comes easier than bothering to say "thanks."

Ingratitude is a most despicable attitude. We who live in the United States of America are truly fortunate! When you consider the abundance of things that we have in comparison to the rest of the world - we are indeed blessed! Beside all the necessities of food, clothing and shelter we have so much other "stuff" that people who live in underdeveloped countries can only imagine as things they might have seen in pictures or movies.

Yet despite all our blessing, how many are really grateful and will take the time to thank and worship the "Heavenly Father" who is the ultimate source of all our blessings? Probably about the same 10% that did so in the Gospel story. Do not be one of the nine--do what the one healed man did and thank God for your blessings not only at Thanksgiving season, but throughout all the year! (Ephesians 5:20)

The Lord's Grace to Paul--and Us

Apostle Paul wrote this to Timothy, his son in the ministry: "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:15-17).

The phrase, "trustworthy saying" is used five times in the Pastoral Epistles. Paul is emphasizing the reliability of the statements that he is making about Jesus Christ. I'd like to point out three things we see in this passage.

First of all, there is the mention of Christ's mission. The reason the Son of God left heaven and came to earth was so He could accomplish the plan of salvation. Jesus said, "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:10). He also stated, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Mark 2:17).

Paul certainly knew and understood this fact. He not only recognized his own sin--he considered himself "the worst of sinners"--a point he makes and then repeats. Notice the present tense of Paul's astounding affirmation. He was acutely aware of his own failures and shortcomings.

This leads us to the second point, Christ's manner. Paul believed the reason that he was the recipient of the Lord's mercy was in order for Jesus to demonstrate his "unlimited patience" to other believers. "Love is patient," among other things. (1 Corinthians 13:4). Thankfully for us "sinners," the Lord is truly patient. Like Paul, we all fail miserably even after we have been "born again." Recognizing this we should be thankful to God for His grace to us and remember to "bear with" and support fellow believers when they stumble.

The third point emphasized in this text is Jesus Christ's majesty. "Who," considering the stated mission and manner, could do these things? Only "The King" Himself who is God. In verse seventeen, Paul referring to Jesus Christ mentions three attributes: "eternal, immortal, invisible" that can only be said of The Deity. Because this is true, He alone deserves "honor and glory forever." for His grace shown to us.