Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Growing Hope

Hebrews 6v19 “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

We might say about something in the future “I hope so”. It can be an expression of desire without necessarily a high level of confidence. Christian hope is quite different: it is a firm and secure anchor which stops us from drifting in the ocean of life. This is confirmed in Hebrews 11v1 where faith is defined as being “sure of what we hope for.” Christian hope is therefore not only a positive view but also a certain view.

What is this hope? It is that Jesus Christ is now in the presence of God in the heavenly realms and is welcoming us in (see Hebrews 8-10). Our hope is not in the things of this world. We have so much – even the poorest of us have a lot. But as we look around the world we see that many Christians have nothing of this world: they face persecutions and sufferings, imprisonments and death. If our hope is the same hope as theirs, then it cannot be in the things of this world – either material, relational, academic or political ….

Our hope is in the heavenly realms where Jesus is right now. He has won victory on the cross; he is now implementing that victory, one soul at a time; and he is going to achieve full victory over evil on his return. This is an anchor for your soul, your inner self, the real you! It is a hope which overflows in love, joy and peace. Peace because we know what really matters is going to work out well as we are on Christ’s side; joy because we have so much in Christ and so much to look forward to; and love because this is all because He loved us and he pours out his love in our hearts.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope! (Romans 15v13).

With love and blessing,

Roland