SEPTEMBER 30
BELIEVING IN YOUR HOPE
“Who against hope believed
in hope… he staggered not at
the promise of God through
unbelief; but was strong in
faith, giving glory to God:
being fully persuaded that,
what He had promised, He was
able to perform.” (Rom.
8:18,20-21)
The word “hope” as used in
the scriptures, can simply
be defined as “desire
combined with expectation.”
It is not just wishful
thinking, but bespeaks of an
expectation that is assured
that it will receive in due
time. Our hope is derived
from experience which has
proven the soundness of our
vision. “Whatsoever things
were written aforetime were
written for our learning,
that we through patience and
comfort of the scripture
might have hope.” (Rom.
15:4). There is a difference
between hope and patience,
for patience is the result
of tested faith, while hope
is the result of that mature
character developed by such
endurance.
We are being changed “from
glory to glory,” but the
climactic completion awaits
His appearing. We have this
hope, that He shall come,
and when He does, it will be
the hour of our total
redemption.
Abraham had received his
promise from God, and though
severely tested, while he
waited for fulfillment, “who
against hope believed in
hope.” One translation
gives, “building on hope, in
spite of hopeless
circumstances.” Though human
reason for hope was gone,
and circumstances offered no
comfort, because hope was
based on a sure foundation,
the promise of God, he was
able to give glory to God
and keep on believing in
that hope. He was not bereft
of hope. He might have had
some hopeless circumstances,
but they could not destroy
the revelation which God had
imparted.
Interesting that the
scripture gives only one way
to be devoid of your hope.
“Be not moved away from the
hope of the gospel, which ye
have heard.” (Col. 1:23).
Moved away – that is, set in
motion, stirred up. Do not
be moved away from your
hope, but believe in it, and
He shall fulfill all that He
promised to you
Ray Prinzing
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