Our Sure Hope

"For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead. When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered,...." (Acts 17:31-32a).

"Men of Galilee,' they said, 'why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11).  "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact" (Acts 2:32). "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12).  "All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name" (Acts 10:43).

As Christians we have two celebrations, the birth of Jesus, and his resurrection. If Jesus Christ did not come then we have no savior in the present and we would still be waiting for Him to come. He has come, and He did live among us with power, signs and wonders, died upon a cross, nailed there for us, and many witnesses attest to that fact.  It is His death, resurrection, and most important His ascension into heaven. For if He did not ascend then He would not be sitting at the right hand of God interceding for us.

I love the Christmas season and celebration but it is for me not all that important when the only celebration that we have been commanded to celebrate is the Lord's Supper, the Eucharist, the broken bread and wine in remembrance of Him.  We are coming upon that date, Nisan 14 on the Jewish Calendar, the Jews celebrate the Passover, we celebrate the Passover Lamb. They are waiting for the Messiah, we are waiting for His second coming for He has come.  Many missed Him, some even sneered at those who brought the Good News that salvation has come to all who would believe. Jesus rose not just from the dead, but rose into heaven and many are the witnesses to that fact. We have assurance for He sent to us who believe, to live within us, Holy Spirit, our guide, comforter, to be with us until Jesus returns again to bring all who are His to the home He has prepared for them/us.

May these few scriptures bring hope, joy, peace, to your world, to your day, week, and hold on to the Jesus who loves us so much that He allowed Himself to be tortured, and killed just so that we could enjoy an eternity with him.  When it going gets tough, it isn't really true the the tough get going, it is our hope in our risen Savior that brings us through the tough times.  Not our strength, but by His.

The World needs what we have, our friends, family, and those we don't know who are watching us, this salvation. Pray that God will use you to bring this Good News to them.  Prepare to celebrate the most important date in history, the day Jesus the Messiah rose to go back to the Father bringing the payment for our debt of sin just for us and this world.

Daily Prayer:

Humbly Father I bow before You today for You sent Your Son to die for me. My worth is found in Him, for I could not pay my debt, and yet He came and paid it for me.  May my life represent You, and bring to those who need Jesus as Savior into my world the Good News, eternal life and all the blessings it contains.  Thank You Jesus for my hope is in You.                                                                           Amen