When the Twelve Months of Hope blog series began in January at the start of a new covid lockdown, Kay wrote of her hope that God would see us through yet another difficult period. Each month, various contributors have generously shared their thoughts on the aspects of hope the original 12 bible verses prompted us to consider.
They’ve reminded us that the heavenly hope we cling to so tightly will not let us down but is assured and guaranteed by our God & King; that we can turn to Him and in His faithfulness, He will support us to soar like eagles even in the hardest of times. Though keeping our eye fixed on heaven and making Jesus our priority is a life-long endeavour, God’s grace is all-sufficient, and we can be assured of His love, forgiveness and welcome whenever we come and confess our mistakes.
We’ve been challenged to consider the space between when difficulties are passed but normal service hasn’t resumed and how hard it can be to hope in those delicate moments. Yet also to ponder what can be learnt and changed for the better along the road of suffering. We’ve been called to pray and act in accordance with the God’s commandment to love Him and love others, appreciating other people’s perspective so that in His hope & by His Holy Spirit we, our churches and communities may be filled with joy and peace.
In all of this, we’ve shared the hope to which God calls each of us, hope that is of God’s wisdom, timing and understanding, not our own and should always be shared with other in love. Hope that tells us that the work God has begun in us, He will complete.
Blessed in God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! Because He has raised Jesus the Anointed from death, through His great mercy we have been reborn into a living hope – reborn for an eternal inheritance, held in reserve in heaven, that will never fade or fail. Through faith, God’s power is standing watch, protecting you for a salvation that you will see completely at the end of things.
1 Peter 1:3-5 (The Voice)
From Peter’s first letter to the churches across what is now Turkey, our final words of hope for this year proclaim we are Easter people.
In a few days’ time we’ll be celebrating that the hope of the world was born in flesh as a baby boy.
Ours is a living hope because the baby boy grew into the man who died on a cross and rose again. May you seek and find the thrill of hope in the Christ child once again this Christmas.
Alex Mortimer
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