November 29
"Brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope." -1 Thessalonians 4:13 (RSV)
While death of loved ones is devastating, the Good News is we do not have to grieve as those with no hope. Hope grows as we remember the reality of Christ's Resurrection. Because Jesus lives, so will we and our loved ones. Therefore, we need not be mired in hopelessness when loved ones die or world events take a tragic turn. God can turn death to life, tragedies to triumphs, poverty to riches, our pain to glory, and defeat to victory. God's Word promises that all believers throughout history will stand reunited in God's very presence, safe and secure. As Paul comforted the Thessalonians with the promise of the Resurrection, so can we comfort and reassure each other with this same great hope.
Yet we may wonder what is hope in reality? Vaclav Havel once said, "Hope is not the conviction that something will turn out well but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out." The dictionary says "Hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen." However, a Christian definition of hope is superior to the world's. Instead of wishing or hoping for something to happen, believers know hope is a solid reality because it is biblically grounded. We know God can't lie! (Heb 6:18) A Christian's Hope is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Heb.11) Hope is similar to Faith because it can't be changed by circumstances. It is also related to trust. Hope is the ability to believe there is good in our future. Paul wrote several times about what hope involves and said it gives stability and is one of three things which last forever along with faith and love. He states clearly that faith, hope, and love are the heart of the Christian life. (I Cor.13) Hope grows when remembering all God has done for you. Our relationship with God begins with Faith, which helps us realize we are delivered from hopelessness by Christ's death. Hope grows as you learn all God has for you. Let God's Love fill your life now as you reach out to others with God's gift of Hope!
Prayer: Jesus, May divine Hope fill my heart with love. Amen.
Meditation For The Day: Hope empowers. Fear devours.
Brief Devotions For Busy Lives: Daily Fall Renewal (Volume 3) Paperback – August 23, 2017by Rev. Dr. Mary B. Johnson (Author)
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