The Gifts of Grace and Hope
Jesus Came to Give us Abundant Hope.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Hope
Hope is based on the goodness of God. His grace is evident both historically and personally. Saving grace means that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the grave. By grace, through faith in our Lord, we are forgiven and have peace with God for eternity.
Sustaining grace means that God will give us everything we need to be faithful. He gives us what we need for life and godliness, one day at a time. Each day has enough trouble, but His power is made perfect in our weaknesses.
Strengthening grace means that God is committed to making us more like Jesus. The hope of God fuels us to press on to the goal and grow in our character, relationships, and service.
Grace and Hope
Jesus came to give us abundant hope.
Grace and hope are like parallel train tracks that always travel side by side. They cannot be separated but highlight each other as an incredible duo that glorifies God. In the book of Genesis, the devil approached Adam and Eve to tempt them. He schemed to undermine the goodness of God. If we think we cannot trust God and His ways are not good, we will try to move God out of the way and lead by ourselves. When you push your Creator away, you will try to find a substitute in creation. This is called idolatry. The truth is nothing created can take the place of our good God. The pathway to hopelessness includes pride, lies, transgression, guilt, and shame. The good news is that the hope of God leads us to His grace which begets more of His hope.
Just Choose Hope
God’s presence is our great treasure, and His hope and grace carry us there.
If your view of God and His goodness has been tainted by the world, and you lose confidence in His character, your hope begins to leak. Remember that God not only communicates but also demonstrates His grace and hope through the death and resurrection of Jesus, and also daily through the Holy Spirit. Taste and see that God is good. His grace is not merely a covering over us; it saturates our soul and is pervasive in all that we are and do. The apostle Paul rejoiced that God’s grace is greater than our sin. God’s hope is not merely studied academically. It’s like a refreshing lake on a summer day to be enjoyed. This lake is full of His peace, promises, and faithfulness. God is good and His love endures forever.
https://justchoosehope.org/day-1-28-days-of-hope/
Published with permission from Pastor Jesse Bradley, Copyright 2024 by Just Choose Hope
Pray this week:
Father God,
Thank You for Your grace and loyal love. You have been so kind to me. Your goodness gives me hope in every situation. I live for Your glory and pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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