All resources in the category "Hope"

In all of the social media/blogging buzz on the grace of God, it is troubling to me that the second coming of Jesus has been largely absent from the discussion. According to Paul, anticipating Jesus' return was the goal of grace. Jesus' return will bring an end to all unrighteousness, therefore true grace motivates sober, self-controlled living before that day. And because His return is the culmination of all of our hope, grace also teaches us to eagerly anticipate that day:...

As a young boy, I eagerly anticipated Thanksgiving evening's desserts and Christmas morning's presents. But as I've grown older I've begun to more deeply appreciate the "reason for the season", as the coined Christian phrase goes. And as I have studied the life of Christ these past couple of years a different anticipation has arisen in my heart around the holidays - an excitement of the season of Advent.

Advent is a term originally derived from Latin meaning "coming" or "arrival". During Advent, the church celebrates and contemplates Jesus' first coming and joyfully...

This morning as I was reading and praying with Jon Thurlow's 8am set in the prayer room, this tweet that John Piper posted last year came to mind:

Heaven is not a hall of mirrors where we like what we see, but the grand gift of self-forgetful joy in the glory of Christ.

In this present evil age, sin causes us to believe that life's greatest joys are found in being praised, affirmed, loved, and recognized. In our quest for lasting joy we work...

The modern new year is an interesting phenomenon. Millions and millions across the world gather to celebrate the changing of a number. Calendars, mobile phones, and checks for the next 364 days will now prominently display a "2" at the end of the date. Somehow this man-made milestone gives permission to so many for a drunken revelry followed by new "resolutions" to change eating and workout habits, most of which have no real impetus and never see any real fulfillment.

However, Jesus is not reevaluating His life, His words, or His plan for the days ahead. With so...