December 2, 2022

Paulina De La Fuente
"Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom; in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth without knowing whose it will finally be. "But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Save me from all my transgressions; do not make me the scorn of fools. I was silent; I would not open my mouth, for you are the one who has done this. Remove your scourge from me; I am overcome by the blow of your hand. When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin, you consume their wealth like a moth—surely everyone is but a breath."
Psalm 39:6-11

As the year starts to come to a close, now feels like a good time to ask, “Lord, what do I look for?” What is behind the motivation of our day-to-day planning and doing? When we look at the bottom line, what drives everything we do? Are we looking for affirmation? Fulfillment? Acceptance? Often, this time of the year can look like what the psalmist describes; going “around like a mere phantom,” “in vein rushing about,” and “heaping up wealth.”

Instead, the psalmist offers a clear answer for all of us: my hope is in You! Hope that through Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection, God has forgiven us fully and brought us ultimate freedom in Him! Hope that we don’t have to be enslaved to empty doing. Hope to invest in the things that will have eternal significance. Hope that doing the things that matter, will matter!

Thank You Jesus for saving us from ALL our transgressions. We do not make light of Your decision to pursue us, intersect our lives here on earth, and make Yourself known to us. We celebrate You this season, and we look to You for our hope, both in this life and in eternity. Help us look for and see You in all the things that make up our days. We love and worship You!