Biblical Hope Shapes Response to Life: Hope Series 4/4

Biblical hope should visibly influence a Believer’s life regarding attitude and actions. “As Christians hope they anticipate the future and bring it into the present. Hope is not defined by present realities but by God’s purposes for the future” (DPHL, 416).

Embrace hope. Allow yourself TO BE embraced by hope. Set your mind on God's past faithfulness AND Hie plans for your eternity.

Embrace Biblical hope. Allow yourself TO BE embraced by hope. Set your mind on God’s past faithfulness AND His plans for your eternity.

Old Testament and New Testament Scriptures point out that God’s purposes for our individual futures are one’s of hope, promise, and of God’s choosing.[1] Our individual lives have great potential to bring glory to God.[2] Living this kind of purposeful life not only honors God, but it brings great satisfaction, direction, and joy to the one following God.

Our corporate lives (as a church) also have great potential to bring glory to God. God purposed that His people in the Old Testament and New Testament should live as “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God that [they] may declare the praises of Him who called [them] out of darkness into His wonderful light” (I Peter 2:9)[3] with the purpose of sharing the salvation message.

By keeping our Christian duty in mind as individuals and as a Body, we will have all the hope we need in order to carry out this enormous and oft-times difficult task. “Hope, Biblical hope, the hope of glory that is firmly anchored to the Cross, has a powerful shaping influence on our present condition. Therefore: live in hope.”[4]

Out of this hope let us keep an eternal perspective of life while engaging in this earthly life. Let us share the Hope of the World with those who are hopeless while there is still time.

“Hope is a Christian prerogative because the Spirit reaffirms the Christian’s position in Christ as an adopted family member” [5]. . . (DPHL, 416). As an adopted family member Christians have access to the power and presence of the Spirit which is needed to live daily life. Christians have not been misinformed.

The New Testament plainly speaks about the trials, tribulations, and suffering they will undergo while they are residents of mortal earth. Christians undergo earthly suffering in like manner as their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did. And like Christ, the suffering ends in glory. It has a purpose and a destination.

“The glory is as sure as the suffering, and the Holy Spirit is a pledge that the suffering is not in vain” (DPHL, 416). Alleluia! Christians “have more than God’s faithfulness in the past and promises about the future to give them hope. God’s gift of the Hoy Spirit provides an experiential basis for hope in the present” (DPHL, 416).

Life in this world will be troubled. Believers will face hard times; sometimes as a result of their own poor choices and sometimes as a result of their stand as a Christian. Throughout the Scriptures, God has proven Himself to be faithful in upholding His promises of deliverance and help in times of trouble. This allows the freedom to hope well and consistently in the One who is worthy of that hope.

As sovereign God, He gives meaning to suffering. Yes, “hope is an encouragement to Believers in the midst of suffering, but it also prevents Believers from being content with present circumstances. Hope insists that Christians wait with eager longing for the great day when all of God’s promises are fulfilled. ” (DPHL, 417) Hope also insists that Christians live life with joyful hope.[6]

Note: In reading about Abraham I was struck anew with the unique way God interacts with modern Believers. Abram did not have a past history with God that showed how faithful God was. Abraham did not have the continuous indwelling presence of the Spirit to confirm God’s words. Nor did he know about Christ.

Makes me think hard about how privileged my Christian life is. I have a past history with God. The Holy Spirit lives within me. I have my own copy of God’s Word (the Bible). And I know about and benefit from the death and resurrection of the Messiah.

Your Turn . . .

How does Biblical hope shape your attitude and actions especially when you are facing hard times?

Related Posts . . .

4 Part Hope Series. The posts will be hot-linked as they go live.

FYI. During April I participated in the A-Z Challenge. Most of the posts were from drafts that are at least a year old. I want to clear out my draft pile (193 as of May 15, 2013). So I am continuing to make a special effort to finish those. This is one such post.

[1] See Genesis 50:19-20; Lamentations 3:18-23; Romans 8:28-29; Ephesians 2:10.

[2] See Matthew 5:16; Romans 12:2.

[3] See Exodus 19:6; Isaiah 55:4-7; Matthew 28:19.

[4] http://misterstandfast.blogspot.com/2004/03/notes-on-biblical-hope-1.html

[5] See Colossians 1:5.

[6] See Romans 12; 12.

Entry filed under: Main. Tags: hope, response to life.

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