365 Devotions for Hope

I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. — Ezekiel 36:26

Jesus told a skeptical crowd, who wanted to kill Him for calling God His own Father, that they had missed something obvious in the Scriptures that they held so dear:

It is [the Scriptures] that bear witness about me. — John 5:39 ESV

Even Moses wrote of the Christ who would come. Ironically, the crowd had set their hopes on Moses but did not believe his words about the coming Messiah (John 5:45: But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set).

From Genesis to Malachi, hope had centered on a coming Messiah whose advent would signify a new heart and a new spirit for everyone who would follow Him.

Yes, sometimes we fail to appreciate these messianic prophesies because the identity of the Messiah isn’t a mystery to us. If this Christmas season needs an infusion of hope, consider the anticipation with which our faith ancestors awaited the Messiah.

Can we recapture the hope of Simeon, who occupied the temple daily and was promised that he would live to see Christ? When baby Jesus arrived at the temple, Simeon took Him up in his arms and praised God. He said,

My eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory to your people Israel. — Luke 2:30-32 ESV

Dear God, may we hope fervently for Your advent. We long to see You. Help us recapture our awe. Amen.

*** Excerpt from 365 Devotions for Hope by Karen Whiting.