Hope is a specific promise, whereas faith is fulfilling that promise. Faith is the manifestation of hope.
Visualize a ship anchored in the water. Water symbolizes a sea of people drifting through life. The ship on the water symbolizes you as a believer who is safe on board. The anchor in the water symbolizes confident hope that Christ will secure you and keep you from drifting dangerously off course.
A wise man was once asked, “Do you wrestle with God?”
The wise man replied, “Yes.”
Then he was asked, “Do you hope to win?”
“No”, said the wise man, “I hope to lose!”
Hope is assurance that the faithful will experience the fullness of God's goodness both now and in the future by combining God's redeeming deeds in the past with trusting human responses in the present.
One of the most remarkable declarations of faith in the Bible, but it must be understood in context. Job said, "Though he slay me, I will hope in him; yet I will argue my ways to his face." Job 13:15. Job declares he would take his case directly to God and prove his integrity because his hope is on God's failfulness.
Hope never fails to deliver. Our faith in God's promises will never let us down by being unmet. When we place our trust in God, we have complete assurance that he will fulfill all of his promises—that we will be raised to eternal life and be with him in glory.
The first hope mentioned by Paul (5:2) focuses on the future when we share in God's glory; the second hope, the maturing outcome of life trusting God, focuses on the more immediate experience of God's love. Hope encompasses a future worth celebrating and a present that will not disappoint!
The God of Jacob is our hope. Hebrews 13:6 reads, “The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Cast your burden on the Lord, and by faith, receive the hope He alone can give. “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
As you stitch this week, focus on our hope that Jesus is God's promise. God the Father promised that God the Son would be the world's Savior, so Jesus is our hope. Placing our hope in Christ is how we secure our hope in Him and get all the blessings of having Christ.
Bible Tag Prompt 5
This week's prompt is hope. Include five fabrics.
Helpful Links
Five Fabric Ideas
Gathering from my stash
Completed Tag
Video Credit
The Bible Project videos are added to enhance the lessons and used with permission. Bible Project offers these videos free on YouTube and at BibleProject.com
