January 2 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Devotional

Every person has hope. A hope-less person is dead. Our expectations have just been rekindled by the start of a new year. But now we must ask ourselves what we are hoping for and on whom our hope relies.

Christians have set their hopes on Christ, and they await the coming of the kingdom of God.

As a matter of fact, all humanity, yes, the whole creation, is looking for this land of hope and glory which Bible believers call the kingdom of God.

Isaiah 35 pictures the land of hope and glory for us. The wilderness has turned into a garden, and the desert teems with life. The lame man is leaping. The mute person is singing. Sin and terror, the dragon and the lion, have disappeared. The place is secure. Sorrow and sighing are not at home in this country. They "will flee away." This is the country of our hopes. It's the land of everyone's dreams; it's the kingdom of God in the world of humans.

And here is the secret. Here is how it will come about: "Your God will come." Therefore we must set our hopes on God and direct our prayers to him. Industry and labor, philosophy and medicine, business and banking cannot bring the land of hope and glory. "Your God will come...."

God comes with vengeance and salvation. Vengeance is for the oppressors, salvation for the oppressed. Punishment is for those who hate God, and deliverance for those who long for God. With this double-edged sword of vengeance and salvation, God will open the promised land.

Nothing is more human than to hope. But we set our hopes on different things. Blessed are those who have set their hopes on God. They are the only people who will not be disappointed.

Reflections

How would you express the hope you have as a Christian?

Andrew Kuyvenhoven's Daylight, a modern devotional classic, was originally published by Paideia Press in 1977. This updated edition is copyright 2009 by Faith Alive Christian Resources. You can order a copy of this revised version of the book directly from the publisher.

A man of many accomplishments, Andrew Kuyvenhoven is probably best known for his contributions to Today (formerly The Family Altar), a widely-used monthly devotional booklet associated with the Back to God Hour. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations for this updated edition of Daylight are from the Holy Bible: Today's New International Version copyright 2001, 2005 by the International Bible Society.