2023 Advent Guide | Week 1

Hope

Hebrews 11:1–3
[1] Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

“Hope” is a word that we often use; however, “I don’t think it means what you think it means” – Inigo Montoya. This word, as used in our modern language, more often than not evokes angst or uncertainty over something we’d really like to happen. “I hope I can get this new job…” “I hope my dad gets out of the hospital in time for Christmas…” “I hope my marriage improves this year…” “I hope I didn’t miss that online sale!”

When we read Hebrews 11:1, we see the word “hope” right next to the word “assurance.” Biblical hope is something that is sure, real, true, and secured that we are waiting for. “I’m hoping for a vacation in Alaska” is one thing if the date isn’t planned, the plane tickets aren’t purchased, or the AirBnB isn’t booked… (not to mention the funds to do all of the above!). It’s another thing if you have your boarding pass, the confirmation email from your rental home, and the week off from work. Think of the excitement of waiting with assurance for something that is secured, booked, ready, and waiting for you. This is what the Bible means when it uses the word “Hope.”

We talk about Hope during Advent because it is a season of waiting. Not waiting to see what presents you are going to get, but dwelling on the promises waited for and fulfilled in Scripture; specifically centered around the coming of Jesus as the Messiah. We enter into the waiting of the Israelites for their savior to come, and we also dwell in our current waiting for Jesus to return again. As Christians, we can dwell in this time of waiting with hope because of the promises of Scripture and the person and work and poured-out Spirit of Jesus Christ. Jesus then becomes the object and source of our Hope; someone we can put our faith and trust in because He has been faithful and will continue to be faithful to His promises.

Pastor and writer John Mark Comer says, “hope must have an object; it must have something or someone to attach itself to. What if disappointment comes with a gentle invitation from the Spirit to recenter our heart’s desire?”

This Advent season, as we look to the promises of the Scriptures that are revealed through the Christ Child, may He fuel our faith as our hope carries us along. Let us allow ourselves to be reoriented to Him as the object of our hope and our deepest desire as we come to grips with those lesser things that we try to “hope” in: those things that ultimately cause disappointment and at best, temporary relief. We might be looking for hope in our loneliness, sickness, pain, aimlessness, poverty, or apathy. The world teaches us ways to fulfill these needs, but not completely. “Hoping” in self-help methods, a second job, a vacation to Alaska, a new pharmaceutical or workout routine will provide, at best, a temporary fix. They may even be helpful and necessary for the moment, however, Advent reminds us to meditate on the truth that Jesus came into our longings and walks alongside us through our suffering and promises to give us Hope through His Spirit in us as we wait for change, release, renewal, and healing. When Jesus becomes our Hope, we will find, as Comer says elsewhere, that “our strongest desires are not actually our deepest desires,” and the healing, the release, the direction we might rightly strongly desire actually points us to a deeper and truer need in our hearts that only Jesus can fill for us.

I pray that in this Advent season, we would find Jesus to be our truest and deepest desire and the object of our hope as we long for, and desire for Him to be near to us as we wait for Him to come again.

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Amen.

Scripture Readings for the first Sunday in Advent (The Revised Common Lectionary)

• Isaiah 64:1-9
• Psalm 80
• 1 Cor 1:3-9
• Mark 13:24-27

Hymns (Terra’s Advent Playlist)

• Come Thou Long Expected Jesus
• O Come O Come Emmanuel
• Hark! A Thrilling Voice is Sounding

Collect (Prayer) for the First Sunday in Advent

Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness and put upon us the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious Majesty, to judge both the quick and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, now and ever.

Amen.

Activities:

• Keep vigil: find some time (10 minutes, an hour, etc) to purposefully watch and wait and yearn for Jesus to return. I’ll be keeping vigil once a week from 1a-2a! Join me!
• Fast: Find something to give up: Food, drink, media, etc., and replace that with prayer and meditation. I’ll be fasting from breakfast and lunch once a week. Join me!
• Repent: have a heart of repentance. Ask those who love you to speak into places you need to turn to the Lord.
• Silent Prayer: Sit quietly before the Lord and listen
• Decorate slowly and progressively
• Light an Advent wreath

-Pastor Matt