July 7, 2008

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.

--1 Peter 1:3-4

In these troubling times, have you ever wondered if we can really be hopeful about the future?  I want to assure you that it is possible to live with hope, despite what may be going on around us.

Because while hope is ultimately about the future, it’s also about the present.  And that’s because we have a living hope. 

Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ we have hope.  It’s because He lives that hope can reside in your heart if you’re a Christian. 

And because of that, there is no need to fear the future!  If you are a child of God, you are chosen and called by Him.  You’re not an accident, an afterthought, or a mistake.  You have been in the heart and mind of God forever, and He has already been planning and preparing your future. 

In fact, God knows the end from the beginning… and everything else in your life.  That’s comforting when we face tough times and when we’re tempted to give up.  It’s encouraging to know that we are never, ever without hope!

So today, if you’re tempted to give up on your marriage, don’t!  If you’re thinking about giving up on your kids, don’t!  If you want to give up on your dreams… or even life itself… don’t! 

Remember that you have a living hope that is working in your past, your present, and your future.  And as the Scripture teaches us in Romans chapter 5, that hope does not disappoint!

TODAY, GIVE GOD THANKS FOR KEEPING YOUR FUTURE IN HIS HANDS!