Advent Reflections: The Hope We Have In Jesus

It’s the start of advent week one! This week is all about my favorite VERB – Hope!! We can find hope for what’s to come in the new year, hope for forgiveness and grace for our mistakes, and (un-arguably) the Hope that is the reason for the season – Jesus. As Millennial Christian Mothers, we can be encouraged to find joy and peace in Jesus this season.  Let’s dive into this week’s reflection and see how we can use the scripture to deepen our understanding of what it means to have hope in Christ. 

Weekly Scripture

The scripture for this week comes from Romans 5:5 which states “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” This verse reminds us that when we are filled with hope, there is nothing that can stand in our way. We have access to a powerful source of love that will guide us through any situation. 

This verse, often called the golden chain of redemption, is an important part of understanding the concept of hope, particularly in terms of how it relates to Jesus and his role in our salvation.

Exegesis

When we turn to Romans 5:5 and look at its original context in the epistle written by Paul, we can get a better understanding of what he meant by “hope” and how it plays into our relationship with Jesus. In this passage, Paul is discussing the effects of sin on individual believers. He states that because of Adam’s sin, human beings have all become subject to death. However, he also says that despite this universal subjection to death, there is still hope for us that comes from God’s mercy and grace through Jesus Christ. 

Paul also uses this passage to discuss the concept of faith and how it enables believers to have access to God’s mercy and grace through Jesus. Faith is defined as an enduring belief or trust in someone or something; in this case it is trust in God’s promises through Christ’s work on the cross. When one puts their faith in Jesus they are forgiven their sins and receive eternal life with Him (John 3:16). It is with this assurance that believers find hope even amidst suffering and despair. 

The phrase “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” refers specifically to God sending His Spirit down upon believers who have accepted Him as Lord and Savior (Acts 2:38). The Holy Spirit gives believers power over sin and brings life back into those who were once dead (Romans 8: 2-11). Through His Spirit, God pours His unconditional love into us which enables us not only live a new life but also experience hope beyond what this world can offer. 

Hope came down

This outpouring is further explained by Paul when he says that it occurs “through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Here again, we see an action in which God actively provides and gives His love to us through the Holy Spirit. This highlights an important point—God does not merely give us His promise and expect us to believe; instead, He actually comes down and gives Himself to us as proof of His commitment and faithfulness. 

As Christian mothers, let’s remember that our ultimate source of hope lies in Jesus Christ alone—not circumstances or even people around us (Romans 15:13). So take heart today and remember that He has given us peace during difficult times (John 14:27), guidance when we feel lost (Psalm 32:8), and strength beyond measure (Philippians 4:13). May this advent season bring more understanding of His great love for each one of us!

Amen!