We’ve got your daily encouragement, written by Aaron Martell.
Bible Reading:
1 Corinthians 13:13
“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
Word:
These three remain Faith, Hope, and Love …. As we’ve been sharing what is love and how does love show itself, Paul concludes that faith, hope, and love are of utmost importance. Well, today’s conversation is around hope. How do you define hope? Wishful thinking? A Genie in the bottle approach to life? Thinking, “I sure do hope this turns out or this happens.” Hope is deeper than that. If that’s true, then how can hope be a pillar in our life?
Notice Hebrews 6:19-20a, “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.” What picture does the author give us for hope? Hope is an anchor for our soul, firm and secure. I love that imagery, that hope isn’t wishful thinking or belief in a genie that if you rub the lamp the right way Robin Williams will pop out.
No, hope is an anchor, firm and secure. But why, why can hope be that for you in your life? Because of the next part of the passage. I won’t jump into all the theological and historical connections, but we have this hope because of Jesus. God, in his faithfulness, promised a Savior, one who would go before us, take on our punishment, make things right between us and God, and no longer need someone to mediate between us and God, ultimately being the Supreme Mediator.
Jesus is the fulfillment of that promised hope. Which means when we hope, we anchor ourselves to Jesus, his death and resurrection is our firm foundation. The other reason I love this imagery of hope is that it doesn’t guarantee that we will be without struggle. If you are on calm waters or floating a river, do you need an anchor? No, you only need an anchor if you want to stay secured in one place or you need security from the waves and wind beating your boat. Which means, having hope doesn’t mean we are void of winds and waves crashing, it simply means, when the wind and the waves crash we are secured in our anchor of hope with Christ. Or when we do get tossed off course, it is a revelation that are we placing our hope in others things, believing they will bring us security or protection.
Jesus never promised an easy life. He made that clear in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus says we will have troubles, but we can have peace, we can have hope, because he went before us and overcame the world.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank you that you kept your faithful promise and gave us hope through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. May I continue to see that expression of love as my anchored hope. So that, no matter what I face, I am anchored into your promise and can be secure in my relationship with you and my perspective moving ahead in living life to the fullest. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Skillwork:
First, if you haven’t made Jesus your anchor in life and receive his sacrifice of life for yours. Take a moment and ask Jesus to be your hope, acknowledging that he died and rose again for your sins and receive that right relationship with him.
Second, if he is your anchored hope, how do you practice keeping your eyes fixed on him versus the wind and the waves that are crashing around you? Take the time in prayer and trust that no matter what you face, you are anchored to Christ. Third- Because he has given you that type of confident hope, what does it mean to speak hope into other people or circumstances? Knowing that Peter gives us this charge in 1 Peter 3:15- But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.
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…. Our lives should model the hope we have in Christ. If we wander around like scared sheep, that does not communicate hope to others, but no matter the winds and waves of life, if people can see the hope we have, may that be a testimony of how Jesus has worked in your life.
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