Day 11: Talking about our Hope
There is a distinctiveness to our hope, namely, God. Our faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 2:21). That means that our hope is not simply a disposition but is based in the timeless truths of the living God. Our hope does not rise up from within but is based on and grows out of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3).
Can you explain it? Can you defend your hope? Our hope is not something we should keep to ourselves. We are called upon to be able to give an account for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15). Let us acknowledge and be able to talk about our hope.
To talk about our hope, we need to be able to talk about the timeless truth of the living God. Knowing God is our calling, our mission, our joy and our purpose. We know him through his creation, we know him in association with his people, and we know him primarily through scripture. He is known through the incarnate Word.
Have we seen God working in our lives or in those around us? Have we had opportunity to see that our lives have been shaped by his hand? I have hope in God, in part, because I have seen God’s hand in my life. It is rare for me to have seen God’s hand during a particular moment. More often I have looked back to see how events have progressed for my care and protection. I can look back and see how my life has taken numerous positive turnings beyond my ability to have directed those turnings. I have hope for what lies ahead, in part, because I have seen God’s hand in the past.
Discovering life in hope is to live at the intersection of the Almighty God who grounds our confidence for the future, having seen his action in our lives in the past. All with the resolve to keep on, then to keep on keeping on.
Written by Michael Bain, Point University Director of Learning Resources