Reflections From Sunday Evening

Today we were talking about faith and how it produces hope. Hope is an interesting word. Some time when you are with some friends ask how they define hope. If they are like many people today the definition will include words like "wish" and "desire". Frankly we have developed an understanding of hope as wishful thinking. A Biblical understanding of hope is much different. The scriptures speak of our "blessed hope" (Titus 2:13). This refers to our hope of the appearing of Jesus Christ. In our Christian understanding hope is much more than wishes and desires, it is grounded in faith and is sure and certain. I shared what I learned from Rev. Nanette Roberts who serves the UMC in Olathe, Kansas. The Indo-European, Hebrew and Greek root words end up being translated hope and the same root word leads to a word translated curve. The image emerges of a bend that changes direction and provides a new way. A change in perspective is always possible. The bottom line is we can have a more informed definition of hope. Hope is a strong and confident expectation that change is likely to occur. When faith rises and hope follows we may find ourselves having a strong and confident expectation that change is likely to occur. Feel free to apply that idea to your faith life, your relationships, your health, your finances or any circumstance in your life. We might also apply that idea to our hopes for our church, community, nation and world. People of faith have been entrusted with something that is life changing and world changing. Faith produces hope and hope leads to a strong, confident expectation that change is likely to occur. God is likely to step into our lives and make a great change. God is likely to step into our lives and forgive us, redeem us and change our hearts. God is likely to move in the Church and bring forth a revival of faith that will rock the world. God is likely to get involved in the community, the nation and the world in a very redemptive way. Let faith arise and hope follow. Live with a strong, confident expectation that God will move in your life. It is very likely to occur. It's been a great day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve