Hope Fully

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13 (ESV)

          Hopefully, she’ll get better and be released from the hospital. Hopefully, their marriage will grow stronger. Hopefully, my prodigal child will return home. We hope for things to go well despite past experiences of shattered hope. When heartbreaking memories intensify, our utterances begin to express doubt that stem from wishful thinking. Uncertainty increases as confidence dwindles. 

          When I learned my dad had fallen ill and was placed in a hospital’s Intensive Care Unit, we rushed to be by his side. Alarm, panic, dread, distress, worry—these emotions agitated my gut while tears dripped onto my shirt. Even though these sentiments obstructed most of my thinking, I hoped he would be healed and return home. But it wasn't to be. With life support pulled, death was inevitable. Hope faded as despair loomed. I promptly left my dad’s room in search of the hospital chapel. I needed time to pray and reset my thinking. 

          Sitting in the small chapel, I cried out to God. I thanked Him for my daddy’s salvation through Christ Jesus and pleaded with Him to peacefully carry him to his heavenly home. Quietly pondering God’s promises of salvation, my mind became fixed on eternal life. A peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7) overwhelmed me, and even though tears continued to fall, I knew I could face the future with God’s help. Death has no power over those who belong to God. I would see my daddy again.    

          My thoughts then turned to Jesus’ disciples. What devastation they must have felt when they witnessed their beaten and bruised Friend and Messiah nailed to a cross. Any hope they had held onto dwindled as Jesus bled and died. What would they do? Where would they go? The days surely hung heavy with sorrow as they hid in horror and fear until news spread about an empty tomb. Some of the women who had followed Jesus were saying He had been restored to life, resurrected three days after His death. Can you imagine their uncertainty and astonishment? Several of Jesus’ disciples couldn’t run fast enough to see for themselves. Were they hopefully wishing all would be well?

          During the weeks after the resurrection, the risen Jesus appeared to His disciples causing them to reset their thinking. Their doubts turned to certainty, skepticism turned to trust. And when Christ returned to heaven and sent His Holy Spirit to embolden His disciples, their confusion became complete confidence. Their hopefully had become hope fully, not wishful thinking but abiding hope. Their Savior and Friend had conquered death—He was alive. Because of their belief in the resurrected Savior, they could hold onto hope, a living hope. They would see Jesus again. 

          The certainty of new life through our Savior Jesus Christ changes wishes to fact. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, God holds an imperishable inheritance in heaven for those who believe in the Savior. Yet while on earth, the believer can cling to living hope, the essence of faith in God through Jesus Christ.

          Even though the disciples suffered excruciating trials because of their faith, they placed their hope in the power of their resurrected Savior. They set their minds on Christ, allowing the Holy Spirit to empower them to hope fully. 

          I carried immense sorrow into the chapel as my dad lay dying in his hospital room. But the Holy Spirit enabled me to walk out with stronger faith. As I set my mind on Jesus’ resurrection, God reminded me of the imperishable inheritance saved in heaven for both of us. I fixed my hope fully on eternal life. 

          Hope fully in the risen Savior Jesus Christ’s power over death. Hope fully in new life on earth with Jesus and eternal life in heaven with Him. Because we have a Savior who defeated death and rose to victory, we have a living hope. We don’t have to hopefully go to heaven when we die. With our minds set on Christ, we can hope fully on the finished work of Jesus, and receive an imperishable inheritance, waiting for us in heaven.

“God rewards fearless hopers with the fruit of their hope.”

— Chris Tiegreen

          All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.

          So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:3-7 (NLT)

When Clouds Gather, Approach His Throne

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)

          Six humble women confidently drew near the throne room of the King of the universe, interceding on behalf of others. Praise poured from our lips to honor our merciful Savior. As we began lifting up the needs of a fallen world, our hearts ached for the return of our prodigals. Emotion filled the room as our souls reached out to touch His scepter.

          It was a reuniting of minds, the prayers of mothers and grandmothers for wandering children in a lost world. We had allowed the things of life to get in the way of meeting regularly to pray. Now it seemed the world’s ungodliness intensified at a rapid rate. It felt as though clouds of destruction surrounded us. So we put aside any fear that threatened to paralyze us, reclaiming with sound minds the power and love of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 1:7). Our desire to stave off evil’s powerful influence over our families escalated with renewed potency. 

          Finally we sat face to face with each other, beginning a powerful hour of prayer. Tearfully we pleaded with our Heavenly Father for our families, our nation, and the world. We confidently approached His throne, believing we would receive His merciful grace in our time of need. Talking with Him through the authority of His Word equipped us to sense the presence of His Spirit (Matthew 18:20).   

          We knew God understood the desires of our hearts, and yet we also knew He longed for us to commune with Him through prayer. In one accord but with distinct voices, each of us offered words of adoration, repentance, and supplication. As we interceded for our children, Jesus also interceded for us before our Heavenly Father. With humble confidence we desired to touch the hem of His garment that He might answer our prayers (Matthew 9:20-21).

          Earlier we had reviewed the example of Queen Esther as a way to approach God. Esther’s uncle Mordecai had warned her of a plot to annihilate the Jewish people—her people. As queen she held an invaluable position to possibly stop the plot. But she had to align herself with her people while knowing the king was unaware of her Jewish heritage. She also risked death by going uninvited to speak to the king. Still she and her uncle knew they would all die if she didn’t chance an encounter with the king. Mordecai supposed Esther had come to royal position for such a time as this.

          Understanding the severity of the situation, she requested that her uncle gather together all the Jews in the city of Susa for a three day fast as she and her maids also fasted. Fasting involved prayer and they needed to prepare for her encounter with the king by calling on Almighty God. Would the king show mercy and hear her request or would she be put to death? 

          As time drew near to enter the inner court of the king, Esther donned her royal robes. Covered in prayer, she approached the king with prestigious confidence and courage. When he caught sight of her standing in the court, he was pleased to see her and held out the royal scepter, his instrument of mercy. She moved forward and touched his scepter, accepting his gracious mercy. He prepared to hear her request (Esther 4-5).

          Just as Esther held the responsibility of her royal position, we too are royal priests who have a responsibility to identify with the rest of God’s people. We wear the royal robes of Jesus’ righteousness when we accept Him as our Savior. We need only to humbly bow before Him and receive His mercy and grace.

          When AMEN (meaning let it be so) was proclaimed within our circle of prayer, we stood up, sharing smiles and hugs. Anxiety had been transformed into relief. We had placed our situations into God’s trustworthy hands. Making plans to meet again, we went our separate ways holding fast to God’s faithfulness to each one of us.

          As we have approached His throne and reached out to receive His grace, we yearn for our families to do the same. To take hold of Jesus’ love and forgiveness. To receive His mercy and grace. To live abundant life on earth and eternal life in heaven. 

          Have you reached out to touch the scepter of Jesus’ grace? Are you sharing the gospel and praying for future generations? It could be that you have been called for such a time as this. 

          Put on your royal robes and approach God’s throne with assurance. Reach out and receive His grace. The king granted Queen Esther’s request—her people were spared. The King of the universe waits to hear and answer your prayers. 

---

Have you been called…..FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?