HOPE
Ps 31:24 Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD. Ps 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy, Ps 33:22 Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us, Just as we hope in You. Ro 5:5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. . Psalms 31:24, 33:18,22; Romans 5:5 (NKJV,)
Photo by James McIntosh Jr.
Tarsus , Turkey – © July 2006
Barnabas Ministries/E.C.H.O.
As a child, I remember hoping for a special toy, or exciting gift as my birthday or Christmas would roll around. I knew I would receive a wonderful gift that would in no way disappoint me, but exactly what was the present and how I could use it was a complete mystery. My hope, as a child, was never a disappointment, and today my hope in the Lord is never disheartening. In the Old Testament, those who had hope in the LORD were often expecting something to happen in the future. They were waiting and trusting that the Heavenly Father would accomplish something, such as sending the Messiah to redeem mankind from sin. After Christ ministered on earth and paid the full penalty of sin, hope had a different focus for the believer. No longer is the expectancy of One coming to redeem, but now a confidence has been established through the work of Jesus Christ, and “hope” in the New Testament scriptures expresses this assurance as we may look “for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Tit 2:13). Hope is a pleasure, knowing what will happen because of what’s been accomplished at the cross. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 | 
