Living Hope

 

         Living Hope

New year brings expectancy. What are you expecting for 2026? 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into the inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.” 1 Peter 1:3-4

One day it will all be over. Heaven is being kept as the promise that our lives here on earth will be gone one day and there is a place that has been prepared for us. No more tears. But as we live here we have something even greater still knowing that we live with the hope of Christ. Christ lives in us and that is what should cause us to rise up and live out all that he has for us until we are gone from this earth. Expectancy what He can do. Others can know Jesus because we carry the greatest hope wherever we go. Sometimes I will picture what that Living Spirit looks like as we go.. In our homes, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods where we have been strategically placed. So why do I spend my time ruling myself when I have someone who is willing and ready to Shephed me in all my ways? 

So how can I allow Christ to rule my heart?

The Bible is the greatest gift that has been given to us. To understand the heart of God we can see from beginning to end how the Mercy and Grace of God.  We are meant to interact with the Bible. It is alive and so are we. For many years I would read it to get really frustrated that I couldn’t understand it. It was only when I would start opening it and asking God, “What do you want me to understand?” that God would begin revealing things to me. But it wasn’t the knowledge like I thought I was supposed to be gaining; it was something so much deeper. Getting to know Him. The lens of Scripture isn’t what it says to me but what it says about God. How do we take Scripture and begin letting that rule and reign our hearts? 

I remember on that mission trip going into a school in the middle of Applalachai. The school wasn’t anything fancy. But in that school I went to the teachers lounge to use the bathroom. In the mirror were all kinds of Scripture verses. The mirror was surrounded by encouraging messages. On post it notes in different handwriting were different verses from the Bible. The only little space in the middle of the mirror that wasn’t covered was where you could see your face. It wasn’t just in the bathroom I would see little verses on the walls of the schools. And it wasn’t just the verses I could see, it was all the interactions from the staff who lovingly loved those students like Jesus. It wasn’t a matter of just accumulating all that knowledge of the Bible, it was taking it and applying it to their lives. And I could see it. Living Hope in a little town in Kentucky that had very little monetarily but had each other and their faith that they would get through it. You could see it on the faces of the staff the love of Christ. 

Living. Not dead. Renewal of my mind and heart daily. Even as all things of this world will pull at me and attempt to distract me I am being guarded by God’s power. Asking the Holy Spirit, “What am I believing and receiving?” Is it good and honorable and true? Is it life giving? 

Father, 

Help us to recognize when we aren’t receiving all you have for us. When we look to  things of this world we “take on” things we were never meant to wear. You clothe us in Peace and Assurance when we choose to put on your Truth. Because you are Good and Honorable and Just and Holy and we need to be reminded to take off and put on each day. You are our Living Hope King Jesus. 

Amen