Annie
Scripture: Romans 15:10-13 Hebrews 6:17-20 Numbers 23:19 1 Peter 1:3-6
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit
Looking at this verse from the Paul's letter to the Romans, the interwoven intricacies of who God is are astounding. He is the God of Hope, yet He is also the God of Joy, and the God of Peace, the One who wants us to both know and believe that He is who He declares that He is. Why? So that we may abound (what a word that is) in HOPE, and how do we overflow in an abundance of this magnificent Hope? By the power of Holy Spirit alone, as He dwells in us.
What amazing Grace is this, that the door of Hope is opened wide before us by our God who adores us beyond measure and who longs that we will take hold of the Hope He offers with all our strength. We live in a broken, fallen world that seems to be forever treading a path further and further away from the God who created it all in the first place. It’s a slippery slope that leads only one way, into eternal darkness and separation from God, and it is His desire that no-one walks that path. Lately we have been learning how God pursues us, how He offers us the wonderful assurance of eternal Life with Him, clothed in Light as we glory in His Presence. But we need an anchor to keep us away from that treacherous path, and that Anchor is Hope – Christ Himself.
God knows about every detail of our lives, He is the One who has a plan and a purpose for us, and He knows that we will face storms, where the winds and waves threaten to suck us into their depths. Yet we have this Anchor, Christ Jesus who holds us firm and solid through whatever storms we face. The fact that Christ is our Anchor doesn’t mean that the storms will pass quickly, often they go on and on. It is at these times that the words of Jesus mean so much, He told us to “be of good cheer” when trouble comes, to lift up our eyes and know that He is our sure and steadfast Hope.
If anyone should know what it is like to feel tossed and blown about by life’s storms, it is the Apostle Peter. It took such courage to step out of the boat and begin walking towards Jesus and, as we know, the moment he looked at the winds and waves, he began to sink. Then we turn to his first letter and we find these words: born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials…(1 Peter 1:3-6). He knew that when we turn to Jesus in repentance and faith, He will hold us fast as we hold tight to Him. He has gone before us to prepare a place for those who place their trust in Him.
We can know beyond a doubt that when we place our hope in Jesus, our Rock, our Anchor that He first placed His love and hope upon us. God Himself made an oath so that those who accept the promise of salvation and life eternal would know that He will never change His mind. This was confirmed so long ago through the words given to the prophet Balaam: “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” Our sure and steady Anchor is our Hope that will never let us down, always keep us on the path He has already set before us, already gone ahead and prepared for us.
Prayer: Abba Father, We set our hope upon Your Son, our precious Saviour and Lord, our firm Anchor through all the storms of our lives. We thank You God for this precious promise, in Jesus Mighty Name Amen.
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