A happy, holy, and hope-filled New Year to all who bless me by reading this blog. I appreciate every one of you and thank you with all my heart for your interest, your comments, your “likes,” your “Tweets,” your corrections, and your encouragement. You’ve become a big part of my spiritual life and I’m grateful for your sanctifying influence upon me. It’s been wonderful to meet some of you here and there as I travel around, and hope I can bump into a few more of you in 2013.
In an hour or so, I’ll be preaching a New Years Day sermon on 1 Peter 3v15 with the title, Reasons for a Hope-filled 2013. So let me start the New Year with my definition of Christian hope:
Christian hope is (1) a realistic expectation of (2) and joyful longing for (3) future grace and glory (4) based upon God’s reliable Word.
You’ve got 60 minutes to improve on that and get a mention in my sermon!
Wonderful, David. the only thing I’d add is that inserting a word like “shared” somewhere seems important to me. We can’t do spirituality or holiness or hope alone. (At least not well)
I like that, Jason. I agree.
David, I have appreciate so much your blog this year, and finding your wife’s blog as well. A blessed year to you, and thank you so much for your gracious, kind, challenging blogging!
Thanks so much, Kim. I enjoy my daily visits to your blog too.
While I won’t comment on the definition specifically, I do want to say how much I appreciate the unique phrasing of all your writing, which opens my thinking of biblical truth and general life. Thanks for taking the time to think and write and share it all. Happy New Year! Blessings!
Thanks so much for your kind and encouraging words, Katrina.
Christian hope is “Rock Solid Hope” because its based on God’s word and His word alone!
Happy New Year!
I appreciate your blog very much
Man do I feel left out!
Hey Len, here’s a bit of comment love! Rock solid hope is a great place to build on for 2013!
The Lord has used you to bless all those who read your blog and listen to your sermons. Thank you for your faithfulness!
Have a blessed New Year!
Thanks Nathan. Appreciate your kind words.
Hi David, new year blessings from Leicester, England. I’ve really appreciated the many balanced and stimulating posts on your blog over the last year. They have often planted edifying seeds of thought in my mind on lunch breaks while at University. It’s also good to have a fellow Brit prominently in the Blogosphere – definitely provides a much needed different slant on things! I look forward to reading your blog each day. Thanks for all the time and effort you’ve put into it.
In Christ, Joe
Good to hear that I’ve not been totally cast off from the UK! Appreciate very much your encouragement, Joe.