Dear Christian friends:

We are all hurrying to make preparations for Christmas, and we have eager hopes. Hopes for turkey and ham dinners; hopes for pleasant vacation days with our family and friends; hopes for surprises and precious gifts; hopes to meet old friends and new ones, too; hopes for exciting parties and good times.

It is necessary and good for us to have such hopes, and God often lets us have what we hope for. He does that to teach us to have hope in the future, and not give up. When we are sick we hope to get well, and God often lets us get well again.

When we are poor, we hope to have more and better things in the future, and often God lets us have these earthly things for which we hope.

But we must remember that one day these earthly things will fail us. If we only hope in earthly things: food, houses, friends, etc. one day we will be very disappointed because at last all earthly things will fail us. That's why St. Paul here in our text urges us to have hope in God and the wonderful things He promises to give us in Jesus Christ.

The Hymn "MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHING LESS", TLH 370, says this very beautifully in verse three:

When every earthly prop gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

So we have:


So what is this hope? In our text St. Paul refers to some prophecies in the Old Testament. These prophecies show that God wants all nations to hope in Jesus for their salvation and to be happy in Him. (Read Romans 15:9-12.) He tells about the root of Jesse to rise and rule over the nations and in Him all nations hope. Who is the root of Jesse? Jesus Christ! King David was the son of Jesse, youngest ancestor of both Mary and Joseph.

On the first Christmas Jesus came from heaven and was born of Jesse's family to save us from our sins. He lived and died for us upon the cross; then ascended into heaven. He will come again on the Last Day in great glory to judge all nations. Those who believe in Him, He will take with Him into His eternal Kingdom of glory. Those who refuse to believe in Him will be lost in hell.

That is our strong hope. So no matter what happens to us here on earth we have hope that gives us comfort and joy. In the Gospel lesson we just read about the terrible things which will happen a short time before Jesus comes again. Don't be afraid, Jesus says, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:28

So also when death enters our home and family, we still have hope in Jesus, and because of our hope in Jesus we have courage and joy, even when we go to the funeral of a loved one.

Such is the Christians wonderful hope in Jesus. Now Paul here says our hope should increase. So I ask, how do we get this wonderful hope and how can that hope grow stronger in us?

Paul answers that question in Romans 15:4, "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope." And also in Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

So by hearing and believing God's Word in the Bible you and I get this hope and it grows stronger as we read or hear and learn that Word.

Only God Himself can give us that hope. When my hope and joy in Jesus weakens and I fear and doubt, then I must hurry and get my Bible and read some of God's wonderful words and promises. I must see how He always kept His Word and promises to Noah, Abraham, Jacob, David and Daniel. He never broke His promises to them. He will not break His promise to me.

When I read and study the Bible and when I go to Church God's Spirit works in my heart and gives me faith, hope and joy in Jesus! Although I have many troubles and problems in this here world, I don't give up. I know God will at last save me.

So your faith and hope and joy can grow, too, if you attend to God's Word. If we have this hope in Jesus it will help us to live in peace with one another. We will not be jealous and have bitter quarrels in our family at home or here in our church.

Paul says in Romans 15:5-7, "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God."

Money, clothes, cars, and houses don't seem important to people who have hope in Jesus for heaven. Such things are not worth quarreling about. Our worthwhile things are in Jesus, the riches He promises us forever in heaven.

So if you are jealous and quarrel a lot that proves you don't have much hope in Jesus. Get hope in Jesus and you will get along better in your family and in church.

I want to close and say the same words Paul said to his church in Romans 15:13, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Amen.