The REAL Hope Dealer
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13 (ESV)
If you’re connected to social media, you’ve probably seen someone sporting a t–shirt that says, “Hope Dealer.” Whether worn to support someone’s cancer battle or to promote a product, it is a trendy tool of advertising to capture attention or start a conversation.
Which spurs an important question: “Where DOES hope come from?”
People need hope now more than ever! With all the bad news around us, people are hungry for something positive. And we, as Christians, have GOOD NEWS! While the world may view hope as rooted in people or things or circumstances, we know our hope is found in God alone. One of the most well–known and quoted scriptures from the Bible is Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you HOPE and a future.” The hope offered by God is real, and it is lasting.
We, as Christians, are called to “advertise” this hope. We have the opportunity to capture the attention of a lost and hopeless world and start conversations about the REAL hope dealer, Jesus Christ! We advertise Him by the way we live and how we treat those around us. We advertise Him when we are encouraging, hope–filled examples of His love to this world.
Reverend Billy Graham once said, “Earth’s troubles fade in the light of Heaven’s hope.” How true that is! Placing our hope in Jesus gives us an eternal perspective that helps us be unshakable in the face of troubles. Jesus’ death on the cross and the empty tomb He left behind paved the way for us to be saved by His grace and set free from sin, while gaining eternal life. This gift isn’t conditional. It doesn’t depend on our circumstances, how we grew up, or the wounds we’ve endured or perhaps even inflicted on ourselves or others. His death and resurrection cover it all! We can always hold fast to the truth of God’s promises and the unending hope He extends to us through His Son and what Jesus accomplished for us. There is no greater hope for us and for others than Him!
Here are a few scriptures to remember the enduring and perfect hope that can only be found in the
Lord! Pray over them, decree them, and be encouraged today:
“Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NLT)
“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” Romans 12:12 (ESV)
“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Romans 8:24–15 (NIV)
“What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand– new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.” 1 Peter 1:3–5. (MSG)
“These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” 1 John 5:13–14 (NKJV)
Saturday, February 18th, 2023
____________________________________________
Million Voices is a movement that gives voters and potential voters the foundation they need to confidently act from a biblical worldview.
____________________________________________