“Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” — 1 Corinthians 13:7 (ESV)
Through Jesus we have been afforded an anchor of hope. Through God’s promises of His presence now and total restoration in the age to come, we can have peace in the midst of trials, joy in persecution and steadfastness when it seems nothing can go our way. First Peter 1:3-4 (ESV) 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.” As believers, we have an inheritance of boundless communion with our Heavenly Father. And with this inheritance we are called to share our hope with a lost and hopeless world.
The hope that’s been freely given to you was not meant to be solely contained within you. You have a testimony in Christ that has the power to transform lives. First Corinthians 13:7 (ESV) says, “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” You are called to hope for a better life for those around you. You are called to believe in people when no one else will. God has abundant life and relationship for all if they will simply come to know Him. And He has chosen to use His children to share that message of hope. Your life has been transformed from being lost and lifeless to being filled with the powerful hope of the Gospel. No one is hopeless. No one is beyond the saving grace of Jesus. And God is calling you to love others enough to share with them the reality of His love in both word and deed that they might have hope in God.
The only hope the world has is Jesus. No amount of money, no friends and no politician can save us from the destruction of sin. The truth of God’s unconditional love and unmerited grace is the only source of redemption and joy this world has.
So who around you needs hope today? Who around you needs to know that God has a plan for their life? Who around you needs you to have hope in “all things” for them today? There is no love without hope. There is no Gospel without hope. In you lies the hope for all the world, the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. Share that hope with those around you today who are in desperate need of restored relationship with their Heavenly Father.
— Craig Denison, First 15
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