A Thrill Of Hope

“Behold I bring you good news of great joy….” Luke 2:10

On Sunday, Ryan, Deanna, Caleb, and Karisa lit the first Advent candle, the candle of hope.

In the Christmas Carol “O Holy Night” we read the following words:

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

This Christmas Carol originated in France during the mid-1800s and it’s been beloved for more than a century and a half. This hymn is a powerful song that gives a clear picture of just how astonishing and needed Jesus’ birth was.

Just as it was before Jesus was born 2000 years ago, our world today is filled with people who are weary and in need of hope. The coronavirus has taken its toll on people around the world. Wars in Ukraine, Israel, Palestine, and other places. But when Christ was born, there was the “thrill of hope and the weary world rejoiced.”

Thought For Today: Do you feel a thrill of hope when thinking of all that Jesus sacrificed for you when he came to earth as that small baby in a manger, or is it something you take for granted?

Today’s Prayer Focus: Pray for those who are hopeless and weary that the message of Christ’s birth will fill them with joy and purpose. Deo Volente.