Rejoice! We Have Hope

For it is written, as I live, says the Lord, every knee will bow to Me, and every tongue will give praise to God.  Romans 14:11 NET

It is Christmas Eve and the fourth Sunday of Advent! Oh my friends, thank you for joining us, welcome to a new day.  This is the day that the Lord has made, and this is the day we will praise Jesus.  What an easy thing it is- because He is so worthy.  We praise Him for His teaching, His power, His presence, His wisdom, His ultimate sacrifice, and a million other things that spring forth from inside us like a never-ending fountain.  

Our worship should be marked by God’s vibrancy and promises. With confidence we can draw near the throne of grace, asking Jesus’ help in this great time of need — help to create harmony between all of His followers that captures all ages; help to share Christ in ways that speak to circumstances; help to offer a hope that gives souls opportunities to sing, write, speak, pray with a full range of emotion, from wailing lament to uninhibited joy filled praise. 

Praise Him for all the things that are personal to you and Jesus.  When you first decided to follow Jesus so many things came into focus.  He went from “a savior” to “the Saviour.”   

He fights the battle with us.  He picks us up in times of despair.  He carries us through to victory.  He sits beside us in failures. He talks us out of acting on our temptations.  Today, and always, we praise our Saviour.  Praise does this for us far more effectually than anything; it not only makes us aware of our ties to the saints who have gone before us, it challenges us to build upon that past.   And taking our praises to heaven in worship also awakens us to the future. Our glimpse of Holy Spirit in worship awakens our appetites to the great feast that awaits us. 

Here is our God! We have hope! Rejoice!