Life in the Grove

Jesus still offers real hope, and that is more than a title of a message. Hope that Jesus brings is based upon truth, the truth that He rose from the dead after giving his life to pay our spiritual debt.

Peter declares boldly in his first letter,

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade–kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1Peter 1:3-5

Later in the same letter he said,

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect… 1Peter 3:15

Maybe these verses tie together with the resurrection of Jesus. After all, Jesus is alive and that is why we can have hope.

C. S. Lewis said:

The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection.

Take some time to read the original story again (Luke 24). Feel the confusion and despair, followed by the resurrected hope that comes from meeting the resurrected Savior. Then pray that God will use you to help someone else find that hope.

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If  you have paid attention to politics at all in the last year you have heard the term “hope” thrown around a lot regarding our now 44th president.  It is the basis of his platform that he ran on.  It seems that the world and specifically our country is crying out for hope, and for a change to the way things are. People want someone to believe in, someone that can help them with their struggles and fears.  Yet I can’t help but think that this hope is completely misplaced.  It isn’t because President Obama is a Democrat or that I don’t believe in his policy.  For that we will wait and see.  The reason for my disbelief continues to roll around in my head as  a line from a great hymn.  “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.  I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.”

Whatever your political affiliation have you placed your hopes or fears on mortal man, or on the government, or on a political party?  Hope placed anywhere other than on Jesus is foolish.  President Obama does not bring hope, nor does he bring despair, for he has been placed in power by God. No, my hope is based on Him who saved me.  

Psalm 18:2 
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; 
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. 
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

How do we take advantage of the current environment of hope?  Do we seize it to talk about true Hope, lasting Hope?

Romans 8:31-39
What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all?how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

Be convinced, like Paul, from where your hope comes.

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