“who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:5, ESV) God is in the faith guarding business. He instills faith in our hearts though his Word and the Sacraments. God does everything to help and empower us to trust him. He preserves and protects our faith. But Satan is in the faith stealing business. He … [Read more...] about Advent Hope: Faith Guarding
Devotions
Advent Hope: Imperishable, Undefiled, Unfading
According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you… (1 Peter 1:3-4, ESV) Yesterday, I shared how we are born into hope. And that hope is alive because Jesus is alive. Because of our hope in Jesus, we … [Read more...] about Advent Hope: Imperishable, Undefiled, Unfading
Advent Hope: It’s a Living Hope
According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… (1 Peter 1:3, ESV) You think about birth. You are birthed into this world. You start in a small, dark, and enclosed chamber. The experience is limited. But when you come out of the womb, you are greeted by a vast world that is filled with … [Read more...] about Advent Hope: It’s a Living Hope
Advent Hope: Blessed Be
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! (1 Peter 1:3, ESV) We are talking about hope this week. It is the first week of Advent. We lit one candle on the Advent wreath yesterday. It was only one candle. It was a start. It was not too spectacular to see just one candle burning. But it was a glimpse of what is to come. The hope is that the appearance of the … [Read more...] about Advent Hope: Blessed Be
Verse of the Week: Isaiah 64:1
First Sunday in Advent Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence… (Isaiah 64:1, ESV) Today we begin the season of Advent. Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation. We look forward with eager anticipation for God to make his presence known in a greater way. We worship a God who moves the mountains. He is a God … [Read more...] about Verse of the Week: Isaiah 64:1