"Christmas" Is About Giving
& Seniors Can Give Hope

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

 

How many times have we heard that all encompassing statement from God’s heart to ours? Yes, God gave the greatest gift of all time that secured us forever in His love and plan, when we received His son as our Lord and Savior. Talk about the “gift that keeps on giving!” His peace, joy, love, acceptance, forgiveness...oh we could go on and on, because He loves us so much! All of it gives us great hope on a daily basis.

 

May I suggest that as we get older and reflect on our lives of walking with the Savior, we have been given the greatest opportunity of all; to share from personal experience the “greatest gift of all”?  Think about it, real faith produces authentic hope and what the world needs now is not just “love sweet love” (aka Dusty Springfield) but rather “real hope!”

 

Christ doesn’t commission us to be communicators of that hope and then leave us out in left field to fend for ourselves.  He was and is always there! Think back, remember John 14:13 and what it meant in your life?   “Whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified.” When we cried out to Him, He even went farther, “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it”.  Dear friends, He’s always faithful, sometimes in ways we didn’t understand at the time, but later simply astounded us! Faith, obedience and time are what bring about the power of God in answered prayers.  Christ has called us, my fellow seniors, into a ministry of hope. This idea was beautifully expressed in a poem by Amy Carmichael when she said...

 

Hope through me, God of Hope,
Or never can I know
Deep wells and living streams of hope,
And pools of overflow.
O blessed God of Hope,
Flow through me patiently,
Until I hope for everyone
As you have hoped for me

 

Let’s remember to share with those behind us, that without hope, our faith is stunted and our love is stymied.  May I suggest a way of evaluating our effectiveness in communicating His Hope this Christmas?

Ask yourself:

 

1. Do people I know see me as a hopeful thinker with a positive attitude?
2. In a difficult situation would I be one of the first people that others would turn to for hope?
3. Can I name 10 people that I am praying for to receive His gift of hope?
4. Do I remember the last time I shared His hope with someone in need?
5. What would I do differently if being a hope-inspirer were one of my primary goals as a Senior in Christ Jesus?

May I challenge us all to create a new signature line in life stating not “Sincerely Yours” but “Hopefully Yours in Christ”!

 

—Joe Schofield 

 

Associate Pastor/Minister to Seniors, Prestonwood Baptist Church
jschofield@prestonwood.org