Certain Hope
Scripture Reading — Jeremiah 33:14-22
The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.
In this month of December, we often hear the phrase “Christmas cheer.” We’re encouraged to have Christmas cheer as we sing carols, bake cookies, and shop for gifts. There can sometimes be good reason for cheer. But at other times we may feel that cheer is something on the surface, even something false, while underneath we feel sad or empty.
The prophet Jeremiah was in captivity in the courtyard of the king’s guard when he spoke the words of our text for today. He was not a “Christmas cheer” kind of prophet; he spoke the sad truth about the world and about people’s sin. But Jeremiah did have words of hope for the people of Israel and Judah. He said that God was going to keep his promises. He said that God’s promise-keeping was as certain as the sun rising every morning and setting every night.
For us today, Jeremiah offers something better than Christmas cheer. He offers Advent hope. He offers the assurance that God will keep all his promises.
As we wait for Christmas, we wait with joy and hope, which are deeper than just cheer. We wait, knowing that God will certainly keep his promises to save and renew us.
Lord our God, we thank you for the assurance that you always keep your promises. Give us hope as we wait for all your promises to be fulfilled. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — Rebecca Jordan Heys
Rebecca Jordan Heys serves as a pastor at Calvin Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She and her husband, Kyle, are the parents of two children.
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