“According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” Phil. 1:20.
Hope is often looked, only seen as merely expressing just a wish that is futuristic, or indicating a strong desire, or anticipating a good futuristic result. Common hope is a strong anticipation. It is a blind desire to have something happen. We sometimes say, “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow,” or “I hope my sore throat will and soon gets better.” But real hope is not mere wishful thinking nor is it a blind desire to have something happen. Christian hope is a firm conviction that God’s promises will indeed materialise, it’s a persuasion and a resolution to wait with expectations that such a thing will happen.
There is a distinction between “faith” and “hope.” Faith is one side of the coin while Hope is the other side. Faith brings the future expectations to be a current reality with a strong emphasis on persuasion, while Hope makes you hold on until the full manifestation of that which you have faith about. A little boy stood with his father, looking at a group of puppies in the window of a pet shop. Dad said, “Which one would you take if you had your choice?” One of the puppies was wagging his tail, and the little fellow pointed to that particular puppy, and said, “I’d like the one with the happy ending.” Hope makes you hold on until your happy ending materialises.
God grants us the gift of hope so that we don’t need to despair. “As long as there’s life there’s hope.” Hope is part of God’s image in man. It is a gift of God’s common grace, but in spite of that fact, most people do not have a solid basis for hope. They believe that because people are the source of the world’s problems, people can also be the solution. Christian hope is different. It is a living hope because it is based on the promises of Scripture. Christian hope is described as “an anchor of the soul, steadfast and sure” Christian hope centres in Jesus Christ who conquered death and promised His followers a secured life in Him.
FURTHER READING:
“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Rom. 5:5.
“Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil.” Heb. 6:19.
DECLARATION:
Dear Abba Father, thank You for the mercy and grace of another day. Lord I receive Your blessings poured upon my life today therefore I declare that I gain dominion over life and destiny. I walk in victory and supernatural success. I come against every opposition and hindrance to my becoming all God has declared me to be in the mighty name of Jesus, amen.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN:
John. 1:1-51. John. 2:1-25. John. 3:1-36.
QUOTE FOR THE DAY:
“To Live Without Hope Is To Cease To Live.”
The Fortress Int’l Church, 2 Floor 10 Coker Road, Opposite Chicken Republic Ilupeju Lagos, Nigeria. http://www.thefortresschurch.com. Email:info@thefortresschurch.com.
