Hope
For some, hope is just a four-letter word because every time they have gotten their hope up, it has been smashed to smithereens, not merely deferred or delayed.
Jobs, room-mates, employment, family--all can either fulfill or fracture hope. And even these satisfactions can prove transitory. A job isn't what it seemed to be when first taken. Employers' promises aren't kept as understood. Promising employees fail. Room-mates aren't the same as when you were friends. Family members move and you lose touch.
Lasting hope is found in God's character as revealed in His word.
Let's begin with Paul's letter to the Romans, chapter 5. Here Paul starts to unpack the results of justification:
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (vv. 1-5).
Later in this letter, Paul would again bring the subjects of hope and perseverance together: "For in hope we have been saved, and hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it" (8:24-25).
Later still in Romans, he lists these commands: "Be devoted to brotherly love, giving preference to one another in honor; not lagging in diligence; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality" (12:10-13).
And again in chapter 15: "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope....Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (vv. 4, 13).
Peter also wrote regarding hope: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).
In a sense, this brings us back to Romans 8 where Paul wrote of hope that is not seen. Because God has given us this hope, He also enables us by His indwelling Spirit to persevere until we receive that salvation of which Peter wrote.
For reference to some that was written in earlier times, per Romans 15, read these passages from the Psalms:
Psalms 9:18; 31:24; 33:18-22; 38:15; 39:7; 62:5; 71:5, 14; 119:49, 116; and 130:5.
Jobs, room-mates, employment, family--all can either fulfill or fracture hope. And even these satisfactions can prove transitory. A job isn't what it seemed to be when first taken. Employers' promises aren't kept as understood. Promising employees fail. Room-mates aren't the same as when you were friends. Family members move and you lose touch.
Lasting hope is found in God's character as revealed in His word.
Let's begin with Paul's letter to the Romans, chapter 5. Here Paul starts to unpack the results of justification:
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (vv. 1-5).
Later in this letter, Paul would again bring the subjects of hope and perseverance together: "For in hope we have been saved, and hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it" (8:24-25).
Later still in Romans, he lists these commands: "Be devoted to brotherly love, giving preference to one another in honor; not lagging in diligence; serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality" (12:10-13).
And again in chapter 15: "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope....Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (vv. 4, 13).
Peter also wrote regarding hope: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation to be revealed in the last time" (1 Peter 1:3-5).
In a sense, this brings us back to Romans 8 where Paul wrote of hope that is not seen. Because God has given us this hope, He also enables us by His indwelling Spirit to persevere until we receive that salvation of which Peter wrote.
For reference to some that was written in earlier times, per Romans 15, read these passages from the Psalms:
Psalms 9:18; 31:24; 33:18-22; 38:15; 39:7; 62:5; 71:5, 14; 119:49, 116; and 130:5.
posted by Ebeth | 7:32 AM
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