Advent: Our Great Hope
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
Memory Verse
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. (NIV)
Have you ever said something like, “I hope we win our game tonight,” or “I hope the teacher doesn’t give us homework over the weekend”? When we use the word hope, we’re usually talking about something we really want to happen, but don’t know for sure if it will happen. The Bible uses the word hope in a different way. In the Bible, our hope is in something that hasn’t happened, but we know for sure it will happen, because God says so. When we trust Jesus as our Savior, God promises that he will never stop loving us and being kind to us. We share our hope with others by showing God’s love and kindness in things we do and say.
Today’s verse comes from the book of Lamentations. Jeremiah wrote this very sad book after he saw his city, Jerusalem, destroyed because the people who lived there didn’t obey God. But even in his sadness, Jeremiah found hope in God’s promises to send a Redeemer to restore Jeremiah’s city and to save his people from their sins. We can trust in God’s promises too! We know he always loves us and is kind to us and that he sent his Son, Jesus—the Redeemer Jeremiah was waiting for—to save us from our sins and give us eternal life. This is our great hope!
During the season of Advent, we can share this hope with our families, friends, and classmates by showing them God’s love and kindness. Let them know that no matter how bad their troubles are God loves them…and so do you. Think of someone who is sad or in need. Find a way that you can show them God’s hope this week.
Prayer
Faithful Savior, with all my heart, I am waiting, Lord, for you! I trust your promises. Thank you for always being merciful and saving us from all our sins and troubles. Amen.Related Resources
Ron VandenBurg
Senior Producer of Children’s Ministry at ReFrame Ministries
Ron VandenBurg joined the ReFrame Ministries team in 2014. He plans and develops projects specifically for the spiritual formation of children. Before coming to ReFrame, Ron taught middle-school for 27 years. Ron completed a M. Ed. degree in Teaching, Learning and Development at Brock University. Ron and Rachel have three fantastic adult children and one grandchild and reside in Ontario.