City Life Starter

Written by Efe Abbe

The Word

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we also have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we celebrate in hope of the glory of God. …and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:1-2, 5

Reflection

True hope is inseparable from the person and character of God.

Humanity’s situation turned desperate when our first parents disobeyed God’s command. From that moment on, everything about our redemption hinged on God Himself. Our hope is that God did not choose to deal with our sin and eternally separating death from afar, He personally took it on in Jesus.

Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection stand as evidence of God’s love for us and the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise to rescue us – God’s bankability. Our rescue is done and it’s also coming. 

We can look back at what God has done in Jesus and be assured that if He kept His promise then, He is keeping the future promised to us. While we wait for that day, God gives us the Holy Spirit, His personal presence, as the deposit of that future. This is biblical hope – eternally wrapped up in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

Application

Current events can present us with many reasons to lose hope, but for those who have placed their faith in Jesus, our hope is the eternal living God.

We root down deep in Him as our hope by growing in intimacy with our God; by spending time with Him and getting to know Him. He is unchanging but we have to come to know His character for ourselves for our hope to be active.

Let’s respond to God’s drawing because He is ready and willing to reveal His character to us.

Prayer

Thank You Father for being are our eternal hope and that we can be assured that You keep Your Word. Help us to know You deeply and live in hope that You are making all things, including us, new. Amen.