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Hope

Proverbs 10:28

"The HOPE of the righteous will be gladness, but the 
expectation of the wicked will perish."

HOPE.   What a powerful emotion in the human psyche.   I say that with the understanding that God has given us the ability to Hope and it is a powerful thing.   Unfortunately we can place our hope in things that will not give us the result we are looking for.   Jobs, New Homes, Cars, Relationships, they all let us down.  Think about what the Bible says about Hope.  Psalm 31:24 says, "Be of good courage, and HE shall strengthen your heart, All you who HOPE in the LORD."   Psalm Chapter 42 resounds with the theme of "Why so downcast, O my soul? Why are you disquieted within me? HOPE in God; For I shall yet praise HIM!"    If we look carefully we can see that a Christian's HOPE is founded in a PERSON.  That person of course is Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

So what can we do for a world that hopes in the wrong things?  Point them to Jesus.  He is our blessed hope!  Romans 5:5 says, "Now HOPE does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."   One of my co-
workers said to me, "Chris you amaze me!  No matter how bad things get, you always bounce back and keep on going."   What an opportunity it was for me to share briefly that it was because of my hope in the  LORD that allowed me that outlook.   As 1 Peter 3:15 commands us, "Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the HOPE that is in you, with meekness and fear."

All that to say that I am glad I have this hope:  The "Blessed Hope and glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ" as Titus so elegantly puts it.   After a week of struggling with cancer in my family, failing a test, being sick, losing out on a new location, and trying desperately to get ready for this weekend, I almost lost it.  But the the Lord spoke to me through His word, a birthday card from friends, and my wife and kids.   My hope is in the Lord.   I "hope" yours is too.

Think about it…