Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Hope

I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. Ephesians 1:18-19

We use hope most commonly as a verb, for example: “Hope you have a good day.” What we mean is we are not certain it will be a good day, but we wish it to be. In these next 14 soundbites, each time you see hope, it is actually a noun! Hope as a noun means a concrete expectation or certainty.

You and I have been called to know certain hope.

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Hope

He saved us… so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-8

I know that my siblings and I will inherit my parent's money and property when they die. I’m certain of this because I know how much they love us. Paul here connects our Christian hope of eternal life with this picture of family inheritance. We are saved into God’s family and become children (heirs) of his Kingdom. How confident are you about this hope?

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Hope

To [the saints] God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

Christ is in you! Let that sink in for a second… You carry Christ inside of you by his Spirit everywhere you go!

Hope is intimately linked to God’s presence and Christ in you confirms that you will share in God’s glory in heaven. This hope of glory affects how we live now – how does it affect your life?

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Hope

Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 1 Peter 1:21

Hope can only be found with faith. The question is who or what are you putting your faith in? Put your faith in the wrong thing and your hope will be uncertain. We put our faith in the God who raised Jesus from the dead. Our God is the god of resurrection and of victory over evil. Our hope is in the God who offers new life to us.

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Hope

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. 1 Peter 1:3-4

What a great phrase “living hope” is! Christian hope is alive; it is active; it never dies or wanes like earthly hope can. This hope exists regardless of your feelings or circumstance for it is based not on what you do or what others do to you, but on the God who is making all things new.

Why not praise Father God for this living hope this week?

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Hope

Remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. Ephesians 2:12

When people are without hope, they focus on scraping through each day as it comes. Stuck in a cycle of survival they lack vision and a will to organise. Too often in the past Churchworld has offered hope limited to the after-life. God doesn’t set such limits. He offers hope to help (or save) people practically from this cycle of survival in this-life. How do we communicate this kind of hope?

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Hope

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

I recently read this quote from US congresswoman Nancy Pelosi: “Where is hope to be found? Right where it has always been: between faith and love.”

When people of faith move in love… hope is found.

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Hope

We have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all his people—the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven… Colossians 1:4-5

The outworking of the faith and love in our lives springs from the hope we have. Our hope is the future reality of heaven, but we know from the gospel that this reality is breaking into our existence now – the kingdom of heaven is near Jesus said!* Because of this we are motivated to love others and share this transforming hope with them.

FOOTNOTE:
* Matthew 10:7

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Hope

We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:3

Paul sees faith, hope and love as inextricably connected and he frequently uses this “trinity” in his writings. Here he says it is our hope that the God who transforms lives will come through for us that keeps us going. In the face of poverty, despair and social injustice, our God says there is a better tomorrow. As we believe this (faith) we are prompted to act (love). Do you believe?

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Hope

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope. 1 Timothy 1:1

Christian author Brian McLaren says of Christ’s resurrection: “Jesus’ resurrection told [his disciples] that Caesar’s muscle couldn’t conquer God’s vulnerability, that Caesar’s spears couldn’t conquer God’s heart, and that Caesar’s whips and nails and crosses couldn’t overcome God’s way of love and reconciliation.”* Jesus is our hope that sin and oppression and injustice can and will be overcome by God’s love. Have you caught this hope?

FOOTNOTE:
* Quote from ‘Everything Must Change’

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Hope

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. Hebrews 6:10-11

When I first read these verses my immediate response was, is my hope not sure? However, I don’t think this is what the author of the Hebrews is getting at. Rather I think what he’s communicating is that as we show love and kindness towards God’s people we catch glimpses of heaven. Do you find your hope becoming surer as you love others?

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Hope

But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 1 Thessalonians 5:8

Without hope it is easy to sink into the darkness of despair. This is why Paul tells us to put on hope like you would a helmet. I’m sure I probably don’t need to tell you this but helmets were designed to protect the head when in battle!!! Our hope of salvation protects our minds from wallowing in the pits of negativity. Take a moment to put on hope’s helmet.

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Hope

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23

Death does not have the last word. Neither does sickness. Neither does oppression. Neither does poverty, violence or humiliation. Addiction does not have the last word either. Nor does abuse, fear or hatred. Jesus has the last word. Let us hold unswervingly to this hope for the God who promises this is faithful.

Written by Steve Hall [a] and posted in Hope

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect... 1 Peter 3:15

When I read this verse it always strikes me that Paul expected us to be asked regularly about the hope we have! This hasn’t been my experience what about you?

Why is this? Is it because Christians are known more as agents of morality rather than agents of hope? Spend some time praying this week about how you can be an agent of hope in the world.