Enduring hope

I Peter 3:8-17

What is it that keeps our HOPE alive through troubled times, or times of suffering and gets us through them? This passage from First Peter lists characteristics God looks for and wants to develop in us as His children: 1) be like-minded, i.e., unified; 2) be sympathetic; 3) be loving; 4) be compassionate; 5) be humble; 6) be forgiving.

This isn't all I found.  Here is the rest of my list.  

   7.   be a blessing (v.9)

   8.   be godly in how you speak (v.10)

   9.   be Christ-like in your actions (v.11)

   10. be peace-loving and peace-creating (v.11)

   11. be fearless (v.14)

   12. be holy (v.15)

   13. be ready to be a good witness to others (v.15)

   14. be gentle (v.16)

   15. be respectful (v.16)

That is quite a list, isn’t it?  I know I have not conquered this list yet.  God still has a lot to do in me to develop my HOPE but my goal is to allow God to help me continue to develop these characteristics in my life.  By doing so, God is preparing me to endure whatever comes even if that means suffering in some way.

More thoughts on HOPE

I Peter 1:13-25

Our hope in Christ changes how we view the world and live in it.

I read recently that “Living as strangers in this world … [means that] we are no longer driven by the culture’s values and demands.  We fight the battle of the mind …”

This statement got me to thinking about how we fight this battle of HOPE so as I read through I Peter 1:13-25, I kept looking for clues.  I invite you to do this same activity right now.

Get some paper and a pen and make two columns.  Label one column “What God does” and label the other column “What we do.”  Then, as you read through this passage verse by verse, note what you find that indicates the role God plays and/or the role a Christian believer plays in the development of HOPE in one’s life.  Here is the list I found.  I would love to hear what you found!

WHAT GOD DOES:

v. 17 = acts fairly

v.18-19 = provides a means of redemption

v.18 and 23 = provides salvation that cannot be destroyed

v.21 = raised Jesus from the dead

v.21 = provides a reason for faith and hope

v. 23 and 25 = provides His Word [that never changes or dies or fades away)

WHAT WE DO:

v.13 = be ready for action

v.13 = be alert (sober-minded)

v.13 = be focused on Jesus’ grace

v.14 and 22 = be obedient

v.14 = be different (do not be conformed to sinful ways of thinking and acting)

v.15 = be impeccable (i.e., “holy”) in your conduct

v.17 = act reverently (respect all that God has done for us and treat others with respect)    

v.22 = love others from a pure heart

What else did you find for these two columns about HOPE?

So much of the power of our HOPE depends upon our response to what God has so abundantly provided for us.  Let’s pray that together we will increase the strength of our HOPE so it can help us face these uncertain times more confidently, displaying God’s love and mercy to others.  By doing so we will be bringing HOPE to others as we increase our own.  It is a win-win scenario!

HOPE

I Peter 1:1-9

v.3: Blessed by the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

 

The Bible handbook I use for background information about each book of the Bible says that the key word for I Peter is the word “hope.”  There are some interesting, challenging, and thought-provoking lessons hidden in this passage from chapter one.

   

My hope is alive.  Did you notice that in verse 3?  It is a living hope because it is hope based on the resurrection of Jesus.  This hope is founded on the grace of God. 

What happens when you have hope that is alive?   When you read the remainder of the verses in this passage, you can find several distinguishing characteristics of that ALIVE HOPE. Here is what I found:

     v.4 = it is heaven-based and therefore does not die or fade away;

     v.5 = it is guarded by God Himself;

     v.6 = troubles and /or suffering do not destroy its power;

     v.7 = it glorifies Jesus in our lives;

     v.8 = it gives us the ability to have joy no matter what our circumstances may be.

    

What does hope do for us?       

     Hope gives us light when life is at its darkest;

     Hope gives us motivation when we become discouraged;

     Hope gives us joy when there is no joy in our circumstances;

     

How is HOPE helping you cope with the challenges in your life?  Is there someone you know who needs to be reminded of the HOPE we have as children of God?  Call them or send them a message to encourage them in that HOPE.

Faith, hope and love

I Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

There were three things that encouraged Paul as he prayed for these believers in Thessalonica: their work of faith, their labor of love, and their steadfastness of hope in Christ.  These encouraging aspects of their Christian walk were also the object of his prayers for them.  I was thinking about this – he was praying about things in their lives that were already manifesting themselves, so why was he praying about those same things?  These are the same three items listed in I Corinthians 13 as characteristics most important in the life of a believer: faith, hope and love.  Faith that creates works that please and honor God, hope that keeps one’s faith strong and forward-looking, and love that forms the basis of all a believer is or does.  Prayer was necessary because these three characteristics of a believer are also fragile and easily weakened or lost by a loss of vision or spiritual life.  Paul understood that principle so he prayed for them even while thanking God for those being displayed in their lives.

Prisoner of hope

Zechariah 9:12 Return to your stronghold, O prisoner of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double.

This verse/promise is part of a prophecy to the Jews about the coming Messiah who would come as a King, a righteous and powerful yet humble Savior.  As a part of His powerful take-over, this passage says He will set prisoners free from their waterless pit (v.11).  Immediately after this is when this verse comes, almost as though the prophet says, “Since you are now freed, go to your safe place.”  The word “stronghold” denotes safety and security and when it is coupled with this description of the prisoners now as prisoners of hope, I see a picture of what hope can accomplish in my life when I have it.  My security as a follower of Christ is in my hope.  Hope is defined as “the feeling that what is wanted can be had” (re: www.dictionary.com) and that is exactly what my confidence in Christ is.  I am captivated by that hope … it holds me.  I am a prisoner of hope.