New resources for today’s struggles

Yesterday I had an inspiring visit with a new pastor friend about hope. We were both wondering if the Biblical sense of “hope” was not just assurance of heaven, but conviction about God’s activity on our behalf today.

My Bible reading this morning expanded that thought with a definition of hope from Ephesians 1:18:” I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints” (NIV).

Our hope is about something already given. Bible scholars have a tough time deciphering the last phrase about inheritance, but it seems to be something “rich” which gives us confidence. My guess is that Christian hope should at least include a confidence in the face of overwhelming odds, since we have the riches of an inheritance from God at our disposal.

In other words, hope means that I no longer tackle life’s setbacks with just my personal resources. Now God expects me to put all of heaven’s resources at work to solve, resolve or redeem life’s struggles.

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