Worship Wednesday
He Is… OUR HOPE
“I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
I’ve been convicted by this thought lately: “Is my hope actually in JESUS? Or is it in the things of this world?” This is a tough question to ask ourselves as Believers. Because honestly, if our hope isn’t in Jesus, then what are we really standing for anyways? The knowledge of an eternal hope is typically a place of confidence for Christians. But the one I struggle with is hope for the world around me - hope for unity in our country, hope for healing and restoration in our families, hope for deliverance from this pandemic. I want to learn what it looks like to be a minister of reconciliation in these dark places, to offer hope to the hopeless - to offer them Jesus, truly believing that He is actually THE answer.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
Our church is currently going through a sermon series on prayer - prayer for our communities, our nation, the lost. And this message of hope that we have in our possession has really had me thinking. With so much darkness and confusion in our world, we are confronted with the choice to either remain on the sidelines and “wait it out”, or to say “put me in coach” and boldly share with others the hope that we’ve discovered in our own life.
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:1-5
Ponder that for a moment… why do you have hope in Jesus? What makes that personal for you?
You may have written down a list in your head (or on paper if your obnoxiously thorough like me haha). Or perhaps you were reminded of a specific time when you felt the full understanding of God’s grace for you and the hope you felt in that epiphany. Whatever it may be, our hope in Jesus Christ is rooted in one or more encounters with Him. It is these monumental encounters that convict our heart to confidently believe that our only hope for life on this earth is to be in relationship with Jesus, and that the enteral hope is to experience the fullness of His glory in heaven.
“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:11
I love David’s raw honesty in this scripture! He totally addresses the place of his heart, declares what he knows to be true about God, and chooses to put his hope in the Lord. Placing our hope in God is a daily discipline - it’s a choice. Some days that choice feels very instinctual, and other days it’s a challenge. But, here’s what we can do:
Remind ourselves OFTEN of where our hope comes from and where the origin of that hope began for you personally. Personal testimony is a HUGE part of being fueled up to share this hope with others around you!
Continue to learn more about and grow in relationship with Jesus. When we do this, our love for Him grows deeper and deeper. And thus, our hope in Him grows as well because we have been reminded of why our hope is in Jesus.
“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” Psalm 119:114
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
If you’re a practical practices kind of person like me, I’m going to suggest that you write these three passages of scripture down somewhere you can see them and pray them over yourself every single day until they become words written on your heart. Remember, this is a disciple. And I’ve never met anyone who loves discipline! But then, you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13) The moment our hope is shifted from this world to hope in Jesus, we are never the same again. He will meet you in your place of desperation. Because He Is… OUR HOPE.
We are never the same again once we shift our hope from this world to Jesus.
“Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.” Proverbs 23:17-18
