Dear Family at Christ Community,

     On Sunday, we will be reminded from Romans 8:18-25 of the abundant hope that we have because of our resurrection in Christ that will be completed at His return.  The Holy Spirit helps us to cultivate this hope through our various sufferings in union with Christ as we seek to love God and others in this fallen world despite all the various limitations and impediments. As part of this cultivation of hope, we will come to the Lord’s Table to receive the spiritual nourishment that we so desperately need to continue between the sufferings of the Now and the resurrected glory of the Not Yet. Though we groan for Christ’s return to make all things new, we continue our hope-filled labor in the power of the Holy Spirit sustained by finished work of Christ as signified in the communion elements. We fix our eyes not on the things of the earth but fix them instead on Jesus and the promised gifts at His return. Martin Luther beautifully captures this call to keep our eyes on this hopeful horizon in his Commentary on Romans:

See how (Paul) turns his back on this world and confronts the coming revelation, beholding the earth, rid of all misery and disappointment, filled with radiant happiness. See how he contracts the suffering of the world into a single drop and a tiny spark, whilst he expands its glory into a mighty ocean and a blaze of fire.

     Join us in praying for the Holy Spirit to be at work cultivating the hope of the resurrection amidst our various sufferings. Ask Him to convict you of where your eyes have grown dim to God’s glory. Request a greater desire for hope in the redemptive promises of God. Seek opportunities to invite others to turn their eyes from the chaos of the earth to the hopeful peace that resides in Christ alone. Come with hope and joy in the goodness of the Lord this Sunday!

In Christ,
Cameron