What is hope? And what do you feel when you are hopeful?
The Apostle Paul asks that we are not ashamed for our hopeful thoughts and feelings.
In Hebrews 6:11, it says: "And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end."
The same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.
What is the basis for our hope?
We have answers that we can believe in.
2 Thessalonians 2:16 - "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,"
Colossians 1:23 - "If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
1 Peter 1:3 - "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"
All Christians have reasons to be hopeful: we have been given the gift of salvation from our Lord Jesus Christ.
Maybe we feel that we don't deserve this and we should not be hopeful because of our sinful ways.
It is right: we don't deserve it.
We have been given it, however, and with this gift God also asks that we remain steadfastly faithful, filled with hope.
The Scriptures and the life of Christ act as encouragement so that we might have hope (Romans 15:4).
We owe it to God, to rejoice in His glory, to celebrate the life of Jesus, and to remember that we are surrounded by the Holy Spirit.
