Hope

“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” Romans 5:5

We use the word “hope” to describe our feelings for a broad spectrum of situations–“I hope it doesn’t snow today.” “I hope my rose bush blooms this spring.” “I hope the Red Sox win the World Series.” These kinds of hope are often unfounded–it’s winter, so it probably will snow, I’ve never grown anything successfully in my life, and the Red Sox have no power hitters!

There is another kind of hope, however–a hope that does not let us down. It is a hope that is based upon the infinite love of God for us. He is love, and He showed us His love by sending His Son to die for us (I John 4:7-8). But here in Romans 5:5, He shows His love another way–by giving us the Holy Spirit. The Spirit dwells in us and constantly showers us with God’s love, reminding us that we are His. In Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul says that the Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will receive our inheritance, which is eternity in the presence of God. The word guarantee literally means “a down payment, or a pledge.”

There are millions of unfounded hopes in the world today, and billions of people hoping their lives will one day work out, but the hope that every believer has in Jesus Christ is sure. God has given us His Holy Spirit as a guarantee that one day we will be with Him. This kind of hope never disappoints.

-Pastor Mike