What are you really hoping for?

Are you hoping things will change and go back to normal? Are you praying the virus will go away or that someone would find a cure? Maybe you are tired of all the bickering and ready for the elections to be over? Whatever it is you are hoping for, today I am going to show you where our real hope is.

Last week, I wrote about Peace, Contentment, and Security and where to find it. With all your feedback, I realized that in the midst of the chaos today, there are things you are hoping for.

But we don’t have to hope for these things. Because in Christ Jesus, all these things are found.

1 Peter 3:15 ESV says, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”

Jesus is the reason for our hope. My NIV Study Bible says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.” This is an inner commitment to Jesus.

When was the last time you committed your life to Christ?

Romans 10:9-10 NIV reads, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”

This is our truth. Not only that Jesus lived, but that he still lives in our hearts today.

At the age of four, I gave my heart to Jesus. During Sunday School one morning, as we echoed a prayer back to our teacher, I envisioned opening myself up and letting Jesus in. I couldn’t wait to rush out of class and into my mother’s arms to tell her my exciting news! Jesus was the Lord of my life.

As I grew up, somehow Jesus wasn’t as exciting anymore. The older I got, I began moving away from Jesus and living more for myself. Jesus was no longer the Lord of my life.

Who are you living for?

Sitting in church one Sunday morning, the preacher’s words began tugging at my heart. As the service drew to an end, the lump in my throat would not go away. While we sang the closing hymn of “Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling,” the pastor encouraged us to acknowledge the gentle pull of Jesus. Opening the alter, he invited us to come and meet Jesus again. My feet were there before my head had time to stop them.

On bended knee and bowed head, I recommitted my life to Christ. I’m not sure what I was hoping for but I asked God to forgive me nonetheless. As the tears rolled down my face, the knot in my throat turned to joy and peace in my heart.

Romans 5:5 NLT says, “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. ²Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

³We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. ⁴And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. ⁵And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

⁶When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.”

What are you really hoping for?

On that day at the alter, I don’t know what I was really hoping for. But Jesus made me right in God’s eyes and I received peace because of it. When we put our hope in Jesus and make Him the Lord of our lives, we will never be disappointed. Because we know God loves us so much and has filled our hearts with that same love.

So, what are you waiting for? Commit your life or recommit your life to Christ today. And receive the peace as you begin to understand where your real hope comes from. In Jesus’ name, Amen. -M