THE SETUP
A common theme in Christmas movies is hope. In most of the classics, from It’s A Wonderful Life or A Christmas Carol to Frosty or Elf, Christmas brings hope. Hope that circumstances will change, that a situation will be resolved, or hope that a relationship can get better.
Often that hope is wrapped in sentiment. A beautiful lighted scene, a Christmas Eve party filling the house with people and joy, or Santa showing up with just the right thing under the tree. There are a lot of places where people look for hope — in the movies and in real life.
In Psalm 121, the psalmist writes, “I lift up my eyes to the hills and where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” The hills were significant in that culture. That’s where the altars and places of worship to various idols and gods took place. So people looked to the hills for hope. But the psalmist doesn’t look for hope from a totem, an altar, or an idol. He looks to the Lord for hope and help. Advent is a season of expectation, a time of waiting that culminates in the birth of Jesus, the Savior of the world. May our eyes be focused in the right place during this season.
PASSAGE TO READ
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What are some places that people in our culture commonly look for hope? What about you – where do you look?
Psalm 121 is a psalm rich in hope. What promise in Psalm 121 jumps off the page to you?
How can this passage help you to re-focus this Advent season?
PRAYER IDEA
“God – I lift my eyes to you for hope and help. I thank you for watching over me in every step of my life. Even before I believed in you, you were looking out for me. That is amazing! Help me to keep my focus on you this Advent season. You are my hope and my help. Amen.”