“In this hope we were saved” Rom 8:24
Dear Father, 2021 continues to underscore the brokenness in our world and magnify the restlessness in our hearts—a pretty consistent picture of the world into which Jesus was born. “Long lay the world In sin and error pining, ‘Till He appeared, and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope The weary world rejoices…” (from O Holy Night)
Father, because you sent Jesus into the world, we have freedom to acknowledge our weariness, sin, errors, pining. There’s no shame in owning our “mess,” just tons of grace can be found there. For “In all our trials (Jesus was) born to be our Friend. He knows our need— to our weakness is no stranger.” (O Holy Night)
Because Mary was pregnant with Everything we truly need, we now have a genuine sense of worth, hope and joy. For in Jesus, we are fully known, declared righteous, and shockingly loved.
But our hope isn’t just for ourselves, but also for the entire world as well. Everywhere sin does its worse, Jesus does his best. “Chains shall He (Jesus) break, for the slave is our brother, and in His name all oppression shall cease” (O Holy Night). Every expression of evil, darkness, anti-grace, mean, and hate has an expiration date. Hallelujah!
Father, until you send Jesus back, and we get to sing, “O Holy Forever,” we know what we are to be about. For “He (Jesus) taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace.” Until the glorious 2nd Advent, “Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we; Let all within us praise His holy name.” So Very Amen, we pray.
