Most of us have things we’re hoping for in life, but what are you ultimately hoping for? Paul told Titus to “look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed” (Titus 2:13). Do you believe that Jesus will return to this earth? Do you want Him to come?
There’s a reason why 1 Corinthians 13:13 puts hope together with faith and love: “Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.” Hope requires faith. It’s more than a mere wish, “hoping” that something turns out for the best. Biblical hope is a firm and certain confidence that what God promised will come true. We say “hopefully” when we’re not sure if events will break our way. God says “hope fully on the grace to be given to you when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:13 NIV 1984).
Hope requires love. It’s more than expecting a future event to happen, it’s hoping that it does. Biblical hope brims with desire. Those who hope don’t merely believe that God will keep His promise—they long for it. They yearn for His return more than anything.
Tell me what you hope for—what you dream about when you don’t have to think about anything—and I’ll tell you what you believe. Tell me what you hope for, and I’ll tell you what you love.
How can we tell if our hope is in Jesus? We’ll talk to Him often, just to say we’re waiting for His return. We’ll pray the closing words of Scripture: “Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20). And we’ll do what He says, knowing that “He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin” (Titus 2:14).
What are you waiting for? What are you hoping for?
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 15:1-21
More:
Read 1 John 3:1-3 to learn how our hope in Jesus changes us.
Next:
Do you want Jesus to return today? How will you show that by the way you live?
Gary Shultz on October 30, 2015 at 5:58 am
Any time someone is talking “hope” I’m interested. Hope to me is more than just a dream it is the sword driven in the rock, its not coming out. The floating thing about hope is you know its there and it will become solid, I just don’t know how it will go down all the time. Even with God’s awesome promises it is very much open to faith, as you state. And I would have to confess it is all capped by the love you talked about. So, hope rides on faith, faith is lifted by love and we rest knowing God has our backs and we have a purpose with destiny. Time has and will prove each to be true. Thanks
Mike Wittmer on October 30, 2015 at 9:18 am
I love this, Gary: “hope rides on faith and is lifted by love.” We don’t have experiential knowledge of what we hope for, but if what we hope for is the promise of God, then we can say we know it just as much as if we were right now experiencing it.
Tom Felten on October 30, 2015 at 8:15 am
Mike, Paul presents the source of our hope in this inspiring verse: “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). It’s interesting how he links trust with hope and then reveals the byproducts of joy and peace. To truly hope in God (by the Holy Spirit’s power) affects us inside-out.
Mike Wittmer on October 30, 2015 at 9:35 am
Great point, Tom. Hope is faith in future grace that God will provide. It’s faith that looks ahead. And because God’s promises are sure, it must fill believers with joy!
godlove on October 30, 2015 at 11:53 am
Thank you for this post today Mike. It has challenged me on the very basis of my Christianity. I can proudly boast of my faith in Jesus Christ and in His death on the cross for my sins and resurrection on to eternal life. I can even go as far as affirming that I have joy and peace in the knowledge of the Love of GOD in Christ Jesus. I know I have hope for the return of Jesus and hope to spend eternity with Him in the presence of GOD. But now, have I ever wanted Jesus to return “today”? I mean, the whole idea of the return of Jesus for me has been that He will return after my life ends, not right now, not when I’m still having my daily struggles with sin. I wonder, if He did return today, in what state will He find my heart and will he be happy with me? Truly, I may be still be some way off from “hope” as in “yearning” that Jesus comes today. A lot of food for thought for me! Thanks again.
joycemb on October 30, 2015 at 1:26 pm
Hope does not disappoint! I think of this often as things in this life do eventually disappoint but God doesn’t! ” My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness” the song goes. It’s the anthem of believers and has been getting stronger and stronger for me as life throws it’s curve balls, every one meant to strengthen my faith, hope, and love in Christ Jesus.
Roxanne Robbins on October 30, 2015 at 6:35 pm
Most often I hear people express longing to return when things are going badly in their lives or when they’re aware of pressing problems, war, and trials in the world. The refining of our faith, I imagine, includes a deeper longing for Jesus even when things are well and we’re not so eager to leave anyone or anything behind.