Hope for the Best

 This is what the Lord says:

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
or the strong boast of their strength
or the rich boast of their riches,
but let the one who boasts boast about this:

that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.

– Jeremiah 9:23-24

Most of us have never experienced the devastation of a tsunami, the effects of an Ebola outbreak, or the ravages of a civil war. But we’ve all felt from time to time like our situation had spiraled out of control. And maybe you feel like that today — and for good reason. But have hope: God has it covered.

It's a fundamental truth that every Christ-follower should embrace. But we too often forget it. And a big reason is that we can't see the big picture. We don’t know about the life-changing people and situations that he’ll inject into our existence. We also don’t have his vantage point of knowing what’s around the corner and miles up the road. Moreover, it’s hard for us to see the greater purpose in our lives when we're going through the pain of unemployment, lingering illness, family problems, or even death. But God IS in control. And for those who trust and follow him, he offers this assurance:

"Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you,” says our Creator. “Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Has life become a tidal wave of depression and frustration? Don’t ever lose hope. God knows what we need — and he knows it long before we ask him for help. 

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,” we read in the Book of Micah. “I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.”

Music to His Ears

“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’”

– Luke 2:13-14

Have you already had your fill of the holidays? 

The decorations went up in many stores before Halloween, and those familiar songs have been playing on the radio for weeks. So, with Christmas just a few days away, maybe now’s a good time to consider what — or better yet who — we’ll celebrate on December 25.

It all starts with the radical notion that God loves us so much that he gave his only Son (Jesus) to personally pay for the mess we’ve all made of our lives as well as a once-unspoiled creation. And with this immense debt now cleared from our account, every believer, through their faith in Christ, is free to serve as his hands and feet throughout the community … and even the world. 

The Bible tells us that about 2,000 years ago, God sent angels — his special messengers — to an obscure corner of the Roman Empire to announce this Good News. And their every contact with humanity proved to change history. It's in the opening chapter of Luke’s gospel that we read about the angel Gabriel’s proclamation to a peasant girl (Mary) that she would soon give birth to the Savior of mankind. An angel also confirmed to Joseph (Mary's fiancé) that the Holy Spirit was the source of her pregnancy. Likewise, angels announced the Good News of Jesus' birth to a group of lowly shepherds, who had seen a brilliant guiding star as it hovered over a manger in Bethlehem. When the angels had left them and returned to heaven, the shepherds said to one another:

“Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

Today, those same angelic messages remind us that God's plans for the world continue to unfold as scheduled through the lives of Christ-followers like you and me. That’s truly Good News that demands a worthy response — and moreover, one that’s music to His ears. As we read in Psalm 148:2: 

“Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.”

Breaking Bread

Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

– John 6:35

If you're like many people, some of your fondest memories involve food. You might remember Christmas dinner with family whenever you taste roast turkey, stuffing, and green beans. That unmistakable scent of hot dogs, popcorn, and cotton candy could take you back decades to a baseball game or your first state fair. And maybe the sight of a homemade apple pie reminds you of the ones your grandmother used to bake when you'd come for a weekend visit.

Yes, food holds a powerful place in our lives. And it’s not just because we need it to survive. There's something special — even joyful — about sharing a good meal with family and friends. As Christ-followers, we remember our Savior's sacrificial death through Communion: a symbolic meal of bread and grape juice that reminds us of the last supper he shared with his closest followers. The bread and juice represent how Jesus’ body was broken and his blood was shed for us.

While we're considering food and its spiritual significance, did you know there's a simple recipe for cooking up a joy-filled, Christ-centered life? The Bible tells us it's one part unity with other Christ-followers mixed with a measure of regular prayer. Then blend it well with a helping of discernment: the ongoing intentional functions of living, thinking, and acting constructively. It's all about habitually looking for the good and dwelling on the positive.

When our lives are joy-filled and Christ-centered, we can stomach even the most unpleasant of circumstances. The apostle Paul exemplified this truth by spending years in prison chained to his guards … and all while under the constant threat of death. But he always prayed thankfully. And by writing much of what we call today the New Testament, Paul used the situation to change the lives of his fellow prisoners, his jailers, plus millions of believers over the centuries who’d put their faith in Jesus.

So, are you hungry for a tasty slice of joy in your life? 

If you haven't already done so, the first step is to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Those who grasp this opportunity become the ones he calls the Salt of the Earth: those special people whose distinct flavor makes all the difference to an otherwise bland world that's lacking meaning and hope. 

Points of Light

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

– Isaiah 9:2

Launched on Christmas Day 2021, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) continues to make headlines with the stunning images it captures of hyper-distant galaxies, planets, and stars. NASA announced this past September that the JWST is examining the outskirts of the Milky Way called the Extreme Outer Galaxy, which is more than 58,000 light-years away from the Galactic Center. For comparison, the Milky Way’s galactic center is about 28,000 light-years from Earth.

It can take just a tiny point of light on a JWST mirror to change our notions about the universe. But when there are barriers to the light — such as the atmosphere in the case of traditional terrestrial telescopes — we can miss the big picture or be misled by a distorted image. This principle applies to our spiritual lives as well:

“I am the light of the world,” Jesus proclaims in John 8:12. “Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

As Christ-followers, our lives should always reflect our Savior’s love in action. But we, too, can face barriers and distortions along the way. For example, the world teaches us to beat the competition, climb the corporate ladder, and keep up with our neighbors. We also need the biggest, the fastest, and the shiniest. And most of all, it’s not bragging if we can back it all up.

Christ has a much different viewpoint: To be first, we must be last. However, it’s long been a human tendency to gaze into the mirror and ponder our warped self-image of importance. But the true message is clear: We are nothing without Jesus, and we can do even less by ourselves. What’s more, it’s when we surrender to God and live out the plans he designed for us at the foundation of the world that we become brilliant points of light that reflect true lives of purpose.

Christ-followers might not make headlines like the JWST, but every day they’re making life-changing differences both big and small by mirroring Jesus through their words and deeds. As we read in Matthew’s gospel:

“In the same way, let your light shine before others so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”