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.

 

Model Parents

Jesus' parents, Mary and Joseph, were in every way the ideal or model parents. From the material in the Gospels about Jesus' birth and early childhood, we can glean the following points: First of all, we will begin with their character. Mary was a young woman who was truly "highly favored" (Luke 1:28) by the Lord. Of all the women who ever lived and certainly of all the young women in her time, she alone was given the opportunity to be the mother of the Lord Jesus. Joseph, her betrothed, was a "righteous man" (Matthew 1:19). His intentions and his actions following the visit by the angel illustrate that he was a man who wanted to do things "right." The character of these two individuals before they actually became parents is why the Lord God selected them for this awesome responsibility.

Second, consider the actual birth of Jesus Christ. Mary carried him for nine months and delivered him in the same way that children normally enter the world. Joseph was there to provide and support her during their long trip from Nazareth to his birth in Bethlehem. Their having to travel and be away from home during this time made things extra difficult but they managed as young people to do the best that they could. Third, in his infancy, Mary provided his needs of food, clothing and love. No doubt Joseph did what he could to provide for Jesus and his mother's needs. On the eighth day, they took him to the temple in Jerusalem to be dedicated to the Lord (see Luke 2:22-24,27). Fourth, Jesus' parents went out of their way to protect the child from the evil King Herod. They journeyed to Egypt where they stayed until it was safe to return to their home in Nazareth. The reason they went to Egypt was because there was a large Jewish community there where they could find assistance. No doubt the gifts the wise men brought, especially the gold, helped them have the means to live and travel during this time. Parents today also need to protect their children from things that would be harmful such as violent video games, TV and movies that communicate wrong things, strangers and other things like pornography on the Internet along with gangs and drugs at school. Carroll O'Connor, an actor who lost a son to drugs, advises parents to "Do whatever it takes to get between your child and drugs. It is the parent's responsibility to protect their children as well as provide for them."

Last, Jesus' parents gave him an example to follow when they did the things that were "the custom of the Law" (Luke 2:27,42) and when they were careful to do "everything required by the Law" (Luke 2:39). By taking him to the synagogue for weekly worship, Jesus developed a pattern that would become a habit (Luke 4:16). They also took him to Jerusalem for the important feasts such as the Passover (see Luke 2:41). In addition to taking him to the synagogue and the temple, no doubt Jesus' parents consistently followed the teaching of the Word of God in their daily lives. In all of these things, Jesus' parents not only provided for him, but they gave an example for all parents to follow.