By Revd Rick Ormrod, Superintendent, Burnley & Pendle Circuit
Reading: Psalm 33 v. 18-22
Notes:
The theme for this week is Life Light of Hope and in these closing verses of Psalm 33 we have a lovely picture of hope that is rooted in the love of God for us: the love that sent the baby Jesus into our world on that first Christmas Day, the love that Jesus displayed on the cross as he gave his life that we might know our sins are forgiven: the love that was displayed when Jesus was raised from death, assuring us of our own eternal life..
Some people struggle with the idea of fearing God and ask how we can love Gpd if we fear God.. Fearing God does not mean that we must be frightened of God, rather that we have a deep sense of reverent awe and respect for God, that we submit to the will of God in our lives because we recognise God’s holiness, power and majesty.
To hope in the steadfast love of God is to be certain that God always loves us and that the love of God never fails. The word hope when talking of God means to have the certainty that God’s love for us does not change with time or circumstances but is constant. It is not hope as the world understands it, a sort of vague thinking that things will be OK, but a certainly with its foundation in God’s promises.
As our hope and trust in God grows so does our love for God. We are transformed by the knowledge and experience of the love of God allowing us to declare, with the Psalmist, “Let you steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”
Wonder:
Is my hope truly in God or is my hope in somebody or something else?
How does the revelation of the love of God help us in our daily lives?
Prayer:
Loving God,
as we prepare ourselves in this season of Advent,
to celebrate once again the love you showed for us
in sending us your only begotten Son, Jesus:
may we receive a fresh revelation of your love for us,
the transforming, life changing steadfast love
You have for each and every one of us.
By the power of the Holy Spirit,
and in the name of Jesus,
our Lord, Saviour and Friend,
Amen.