One Word is HOPE

As a follow-up to my last post, I’m continuing to consider GetOneWord as a goal setting strategy for this year, and I’m still listening to Suddenly by Phillips, Craig & Dean. I’m having to admit that like a few other family members, I do have the tendency to hit repeat, repeat, repeat when a particular song speaks to me.

I find myself singing along- either out loud with the music or in my head, the lyrics that I highlighted previously:

Right where you are-

SUDDENLY-

Everything can change.

These lyrics resonate with me because they proclaim HOPE-  an expectation or belief that what is desired or promised will in fact come to pass.

While the word HOPE seems to rest in the realm of the unseen, when present it actually prompts activity in the realm of the seen.  HOPE is the fuel that prompts waiting, enduring, and continuing until an expectation comes to pass. When applied spiritually, HOPE results in obedience during the in-between of the promise given and the promise fulfilled.

I was reminded of this during the season of Advent-

As the prophets predicted and foretold of the coming Messiah, they offered words of HOPE so that God’s people would/could endure the wait for the promise to come.

When Jesus arrived, He came as the gift of HOPE to all who would receive Him. Scripture assures us of this HOPE in Christ-

HOPE is in the name of Jesus! (Matthew 12:18-21)
Jesus is a HOPE that saves. (Romans 8:24-25)
HOPE in him will not disappoint. (Romans 5:5)
Our HOPE is an anchor that keeps us secure. (Hebrews 6:19)

In 2020, I want to be filled with this very real and present HOPE of Jesus, so I’m adding some PICs to my notebook-

I want to live like the 10 lepers Jesus encountered in Luke 17:11-14–

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”  When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.

I highlighted this passage as I read through the book of Luke- 1 chapter a day during the month of December, and I have not forgotten it. While most often the teaching of this passage centers around the one leper who returns to thank Jesus for healing, I was taken aback by the last sentence in verse 14-

And as they went they were cleansed! 

The footnote in my Bible says of the lepers, “They had to begin to obey Jesus’s command to go to the priests before they were actually healed.” (ESV)

I wrote in the margin of my Bible- OBEY BEFORE THE ANSWER COMES.

This is the evidence of HOPE-

HOPE prompts faith to believe in what it doesn’t see just yet and results in obedience to God in the here and now. For this the ancients were commended in Hebrews 11. Because of this the lepers went to the priests before they had results to show.

As 2020 begins to unfold, I’m praying for the evidence of HOPE in me-

I pray that HOPE will prompt belief to faithfully obey God as I walk into this year. I want it to be said of me-

As she went . . . suddenly, everything changed . . .

because of the very sure and present HOPE of Christ!