Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week 

Hope

Romans 5v5 “And hope does not disappoint us.” NIV)

When we were deciding what to name our church, I interviewed a few people on the street to see what they thought of different potential names. The feedback I received was that “hope” was aspiring to something that was possible but unlikely.

Biblical “hope” is quite different to that. It is looking forward with expectation to the Word of God being fulfilled. This is made certain for us because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, which was itself both the fulfilment of His Word, and the demonstration of his ability to do what is impossible for us. Additionally, this hope is made certain for us, in the words of the above verse, “And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (5v5)

God has poured out his love and Spirit into those of us who have received Him. He has thereby given us personal experience of God fulfilling his promise (“ask and you will receive”). Furthermore, the Holy Spirit is the one who enables us to keep up hope when all around is pointing the other way. It is noteworthy that the context of the above verse is, “And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so , but we also rejoice in our sufferings …” (5v2-3)

The world around us may be either optimistic or pessimistic depending on the latest news or situation. But our hope is rooted in the God who does not change.

May the Lord fill us with hope in Him.

With love and blessing,

Roland