HOPE: confident trust with the expectation of fulfillment!

Hope that characterizes the kingdom of God, the reign of Jesus prophesied in scripture, isn’t wishful thinking. It is solid certainty, expectation that knows fulfillment!

⁴Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

Romans 15:4

One way to restore hope is to read scripture. That is why they were written — for hope and encouragement. Even as I write that I think about all the objections to finding hope in some parts of scripture. I find I have to turn the question on myself. If I am not finding hope and encouragement in scripture, am I reading it right? Is there something I am not understanding?

There is a foundational scripture that undergirds everything else and it certainly brings hope and encouragment to me. I hope it does for you as well!

²⁰Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. ²¹He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. ²²And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous. ²³And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn’t just for Abraham’s benefit. It was recorded ²⁴for our benefit, too, assuring us that God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.

Romans 4:20-25

This scripture encourages me and gives me hope! You see, Abraham was declared right with God because he believed. He hadn’t done a single thing yet, but because he believed, he was declared RIGHT! This is God’s character to declare you right before him just by believing what he said!

I assure you today that Jesus died for your sins and was raised to life to make you right with God! Nothing you do will make that more true or less true. It is just a fact! It becomes reality in your life when you believe it.

This is the greatest inheritance, the best gift you could imagine, the lottery of a lifetime — you are right with God! This moment, right now, yesterday, today and forever! Now collect on that winning and allow HOPE to well up and take possession of your heart and mind! Don’t wait for someone to acknowledge you as the winner. Go collect on that winning ticket and allow it to change your whole life!