The Expectation of Christ | Resources
Memory Verse
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 (CSB)
Discussion/Reflection Questions
1) What is hope? Why do we need hope?
2) What are common things people place their hope in other than Jesus?
3) Why can’t hope be found in anything other than Jesus Christ?
4) What has God used in your life to prove to you that hope is only found in Jesus?
5) Is your hope fully in Christ today? If not, what needs to change?
Devotional
“Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times.” Micah 5:2
Micah wrote these words approximately 700 years before this prophecy was fulfilled in Matthew 2:6.
The Israelites waited 700 years for God’s mercy and forgiveness to be delivered. That’s a long time, roughly 175 generations or 10 consecutive lifetimes! Seven hundred years of waiting, hoping, and expectantly watching for God to bring His covenant love and promises into real time and space—in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
One of the reasons the Israelites could wait for so long was because they knew their God was unique. Not only was their God the only true and real God, but He was also unique in His character to be faithful to His people despite their sins.
The book of Micah, specifically chapter 7, reminds us that God delights in showing us faithfulness and that He will not hold on to His anger forever. He chooses compassion and forgiveness because He is faithful and true to His Word.
This is why the Israelites could expectantly look for the Christ no matter how much they and the culture were straying from God.
This is why we can expect Jesus to show up in our lives no matter how we have failed Him. We are compelled to be contrite and repent of our sin (Micah 7:9; Romans 7:7-25); and Jesus promises to be true to His character: He will have mercy and loving compassion on His people (Micah 7:18-20; Romans 5:8).
This is also why we can wait over 2,000 years and still expect Jesus to return one day for His people.
He is faithful. He will surely do it (1 Thessalonians 5:24).