Growing up, my mom always insisted on reading classic advent books once the Thanksgiving season was over.
I have vague memories of being laid up in the living room while mom read from books such as “Jotham’s Journey” or “Tabitha’s Travels”. Recently my mom even introduced “Ishtar’s Odyssey”, which I highly recommend.
These stories were fiction yet filled with truth of historical Biblical times, and what it might have looked like to travel to the King of Kings while highlighting the different candles of advent.
Every Advent season we celebrate the following things that Jesus Christ has to offer us: hope, joy, peace, and love.
This week we enter into the first week of advent, in which we celebrate the hope that we have through Christ our Lord.
This hope represents the life of Christ, but it also represents His return. We can live in celebration of both.
As we are reminded of this hope, I lean into a song put out by the Gettys, Matt Boswell, and Matt Papa. Though not a traditional Christmas chorus, I believe it perfectly captures the hope we celebrate each season of advent.
“Christ our Hope in Life and Death” is a worship song filled with truth from God’s Word and His promises made to us.
Each verse of the song encourages believers to trust in our one and only hope: Jesus Christ.
Christ; our hope in life and death.
Christ; our only confidence.
Christ; Who holds our days within His hands.
Christ; the One who’s love will keep us to the end.
Christ; who’s truth can calm the troubled soul.
Christ; full of grace and goodness.
Christ; the One who holds our faith, even when fears arise.
Christ; our Refuge and Redeemer.
Christ; the One who lives.
Christ; the reward of Heaven.
Christ; the One who offers eternal life.
Christ; ours forevermore.
Even as I read through the truth that each lyric brings, all I can think is “Hallelujah!”; which is exactly what the chorus prompts us to sing.
“Oh sing, hallelujah, our hope springs eternal! Oh sing, hallelujah, now and ever we confess, Christ our hope in life and death!”.
This song is one of response to the eternal hope that Christ brings. This is why we celebrate hope.
We have a hope that nothing or no one can compare to. In every season of life we have a Savior who walks with us. He was a Savior that walked before us.
We have a hope that was not left in the tomb, but instead our hope rose- defeating death and the grave.
Join me this advent season in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, and join me this week in leaning into the hope Jesus Christ continually gives us. Join me in walking in that hope daily.
Look forward to the future of things to come, but find ways to live in the present. Spread this hope we have so others can experience it as well.
Each week for the advent season I will briefly highlight the theme and a song that reflects our celebration; so please come back and see how the Lord has me sitting in the wonder of His birth.
Song for reflection, prayer, and singing:
“Christ our Hope in Life and Death” - Keith & Kristyn Getty, Matt Boswell, Matt Papa
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