HOPE BEGINS HERE

 

JUNE 12, 2024

1 Corinthians 13:7

 

“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”

Through Jesus, the Bible tells us we receive a steadfast hope that anchors us. God's promises of His enduring presence and the renewal that will be ours in the future, allows us to find peace even during challenges, joy in the face of  great trouble, and resilience when everything seems to pile up against us.

 1 Peter 1:3-4 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” Do you understand what this means? It means that as followers of Jesus, we have an inheritance that promises us an unending communion with our heavenly Father. With such an inheritance, we then are challenged to tell those around us the reason for our hope.

The hope we've received is not just for us to keep to ourselves; it's meant to be shared. Let what I am about to say sink in. Ready? Your story (testimony) in Christ has the potential to change lives. 

1 Corinthians 13:7 says, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” We, therefore are called to hope for a better more abundant life for those around us. We are called to believe in people when no one else will.  As our life has been transformed from being "lifeless and lacking direction to being filled with the powerful hope of the gospel, we have been given a message that says "No one is hopeless." No one is beyond the reach of the grace of Jesus. So, God calls us to love others deeply, sharing the truth of His love through our words and actions, so they too may find hope in God.

Consider who in your life may be in need of hope today. 

Think about how you can demonstrate God's grace, love, and peace. 

In what way might you mirror God's unconditional love.