Christ in you the Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:23 – 28)

Walking the anticipatory path called Advent and remembering the birth of Jesus Christ, Yeshua Ha-Mashiac, our second milestone, is Hope.  Love births hope.

Hope is one of the three things that abides or sticks around in 1 Corinthians 13.

Last month ended with the return of Jesus Christ, culminating with Christ the King Sunday.  Now we recall his first coming as a child in a manger,  a suffering servant.  God’s Word became flesh in Jesus Christ (John 1) and we beheld his glory, what God in the flesh looked like.  He was a lot like Adam for Adam was created in God’s image.  

We see that image when we look at a husband and wife, for they are one flesh and as they submit to God they become one flesh again, the image of God (Ephesians 5:25-32) and evidenced by the children they bring into the world.  As we look into God’s perfect law of liberty, we are changed into the image of his dear son. (Romans 12:1-3) (James 1:24-27)

We begin as he did, as babies desiring the sincere milk of the word that we may grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2) but leaving the milk as we grow by eating the meat (Hebrews 5:14).  Jesus said to the disciples at the well in Samaria. (John 4:12),  “I have meat to eat that ye know not of.” Each day we grow more and more into His likeness and we carry within ourselves the hope of his calling (Ephesians 1:18) in these mortal bodies, earthen vessels. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

One day we will grow up into the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:13)

We have the hope, that one day we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2-4)  Because we have this hope, we purify ourselves even as He is pure.  

We are always ready to give an account of the reason of this hope within us with meekness and fear.  Our hope is an anchor both sure and steadfast.  (Hebrews 6:18-20)

As Abraham hoped against hope to become the father of many nations. (Romans 4:17-19)  We hope to be found in Him not having our own righteousness (Philippians 3:9) which is of the law but that  which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

We rejoice hope of the glory of God but we rejoice in tribulations and trials as well because they work our patience giving us experience and hope.  Hope will not make us ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (Romans 5:2-5).  But our journey begins like His, as a helpless baby.

(Cathy Bayert is pastor of Greybull First Baptist Church.)