Kept by Hope

Thanksgiving Day was full of loving warmth among friends, funny stories, and great food. I was not eager to see it end. Coming home in the evening to my living room, I sat there gazing at the Christmas tree’s sparkly lights. Overcome with emotion, tears blurred my vision. Oh yes, I am ever so thankful for my children, the rich life I have known personally, and the treasure of many relationships. “Unforgettable” is the way I would describe God’s amazing gifts to me, but I also deeply feel the ache of memories that are full of love but past tense.

My reflections led me to a place where I realized again that despite the inevitable advance of time and age, the inescapable pain of loss to death, there is God’s gift of hope. Christians now step into the brief season of Advent, remembering the One Who came to reconcile humanity to their Creator, and anticipating that He will come again with the complete revelation of the reign of God and the destruction of evil!

The cornerstone of Christianity is the Resurrection of Christ Jesus from the dead which Paul called the “first-fruits” (evidence) of our own immortality. "But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 15:20, NIV) The many I have laid in their graves are not lost to me forever! My own inevitable appointment with death is not a grim end, but a glorious beginning. This is the HOPE that sustains me.

On a grander scale, Advent announces hope to the world; a place too often marred by war, disease, suffering, floods, and fire. In words defying our full understanding, we are told that the King will come with perfect justice, banishing suffering, wiping away every tear. When Jesus returns, there will be the fulfillment of the promise of John’s Revelation - “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life." (Revelation 21:3-6, NIV)

So, friends, let’s receive the call of the Spirit in Whom we have hope. The word from the Word says - "Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God." (Revelation 3:2, NIV) We look forward in faith, with hope, and live with joy!

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(Video of this blog at this link)

 

The not so simple challenge

Let’s take on a challenge together – to be thankful!  Put a daily reminder in your phone, post a note on your fridge. This week practice real gratitude. That sounds simple, but if you listen to your words and those of the people around you, you will discover how much time we spend being anything but grateful. If there is one ugly part of being American, it is that sense of entitlement that makes us think that life owes us a favor. Challenge – be thankful!

Start with the Lord! At the very beginning of the day offer a specific prayer of thanks; for someone, something, for Jesus, for eternal life, for life, for the hope of a new day. Do more than - ‘thank you, God.’   Psalm 136 is a good template if you need a way to get started. “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1 (NLT)

Continue with people you meet! Express your thanks to that woman at the coffee counter, with a smile. Tell your spouse they are appreciated. Write a note to your friend and say “thank you” in a meaningful way. Make it personal!

Genuine thankfulness enriches those who practice it. Gratitude grows faith that makes us pray with expectation. When we are wrapped up in Self, when we complain and criticize too much, we lose sight of what God can do. We do not take the provisions that our Father makes available to us because we become consumed with the desire to live life on my own terms.

Real gratitude is enriching to others. Who does not feel encouraged when someone reminds us of our value to them, or of some way in which we have made life better for them?

God’s will is that we are thankful. The Word simply says- “No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NLT)

10 men approached Jesus because they were in a desperate situation. They were ‘lepers.’  Because of their disease, they were required to live in isolation from friends and family, surviving by begging. They were generally despised because most people thought they had leprosy because had done something deserving of God’s judgment! To be a leper at that time was a kind of living death! 

These men heard about Jesus’ healing work and when they saw him, they yelled “Have mercy on us!”  He directed them to an act of faith. “Go show yourself to the priest.”  If a person’s skin issue cleared up, the priest could certify that and allow them to return to society.

"And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?" (Luke 17:14-17, NIV) The tragic part of that story is that just one even thought to go back to Jesus and express his gratitude. Luke includes the detail that the grateful one was another kind of social outcast, a Samaritan; not a ‘true child of God’ in the opinion of the majority.

The Bible obscures his true reaction with a dry phrase saying that he was  ‘praising God in a loud voice.’  He was yelling, pointing at his new skin, jumping up and down, and crying. He didn’t kneel reverently when he found Jesus. He threw himself at His feet in an expression of complete humility, realizing he deserved nothing and received everything.

Does the Lord Who gives life and grace to you,
Who has made you part of His eternal family,
Who has fully paid for your deliverance from death,
find Himself looking at a person who, like the nine of Luke’s story, has forgotten the Source of those blessings? Do you remember to give thanks?

Ready to take the GRATITUDE challenge? Make those reminders and start to give thanks. Take a cue from Paul about how to become grateful. We start by becoming totally Jesus focused. "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:12-13, NIV)

Here’s a word from the Word, an ancient song sung by those who recalled the Lord’s mercies in restoring His people to their land and faith after a long time in captivity. Make it your song today.

"When the Lord brought back his exiles to Jerusalem, it was like a dream!
We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said,
“What amazing things the Lord has done for them.”
Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!
What joy!

Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert.
Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy.
They weep as they go to plant their seed, but they sing as they return with the harvest."

(Psalm 126, NLT)

Don’t be one of the 9 who forgot their Source!
Be the 1 who was thankful!

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(Video of this blog at this link)