H.O.P.E.: Heavenly Outlook Produces Endurance

Romans 15:13
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

For many Christians, Hope is the forgotten theological virtue. Most of Christian discourse focuses on Faith and Charity (divine love). However, Hope is crucial for Christian health and God wants us to overflow with it.

What is Christian Hope? Christian Hope is the expectation that God’s promises are true: that Jesus will return and all believers will join Him in Heaven.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. ~Psalm 42:11

To understand why Hope is so vital, consider a child expecting a birthday treat or gifts at Christmas time. Most children will try to be on their best behavior in the days leading up to their special surprise so that nothing stops them from getting what their heart has desired for so long. The focus on their expectation gives them the ability to ignore and even overcome the temptations that they would usually give into.

That’s exactly why Christian Hope is so essential for the believer. Without Hope, we lack the motivation to seek God. Without Hope we lack the zeal to do His will. Without Hope we cannot endure tribulation. Without Hope we can only live for the now. Without Hope we are powerless, unable to rise above mediocrity, unable to resist temptation.

God’s will is to supply us with an overflowing and endless abundance of Hope. And Faith that is in jubilant harmony with God puts us in the place where the Holy Spirit can produce Hope in us. Specifically, the more we trust in God the greater is our Hope in God: Faith produces Hope.

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. ~Galatians 5:5

For the Christian, Faith is the compass that points the way to God and Hope is the sustenance for the journey. The closer we get to God, the more strength we have to keep going. Hope gives us energy; it builds our muscles and it keeps our Christian life in tune.

With Hope we will seek God.
With Hope we will obey God zealously.
With Hope we will endure trials.
With Hope we will live for the Glory that awaits us.
With Hope we are powerful, able to rise above the ordinary, able to resist temptation.

Happy is he… whose hope is in the LORD his God: ~ Psalm 146:5

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