Message summary: Hope is one of the greatest of God's blessings. Our relationship with God always involves faith, and active faith in Christ will always lead to hope. What assurance we find in four descriptive words in the daily Scripture portion, "The God Of Hope".

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"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).

While pastoring in Massachusetts we were blessed to know a godly woman named Hope Winchoba in our congregation, and I can say that she lived up to her name. Anytime we visited with her and John in their home on West Island near New Bedford, our conversation was filled with encouragement and the unfading hope of soon meeting Jesus in heaven which both of them have been experiencing over the past 24 years plus.

Hope is one of the greatest of God's blessings. Our relationship with God always involves faith, and active faith in Him will always lead to hope. When our faith in God is weak, inactive or non-existent we will either have no hope or misplaced hope. But the depth of His riches will only be experienced when we unreservedly place our confidence in "the God of hope".

We always need hope but sometimes more than others. Let us consider three blessings concerning our hope in Christ (though there are many more):

1) Our hope in Christ is a saving hope. "We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe" (1 Timothy 4:10). Jesus foundationally was born into this world to save.

2) Our hope in Christ is a constant hope. The Psalmist wrote, "My hope is in you all day long" (Psalm 25:5). Our spiritual hope in Christ doesn't diminish or fluctuate due to the vagaries of life. "Where morning dawns and evening fades You call forth songs of joy" (Psalm 65:8). This verse is used in a Paul Baloche song many of us have sung titled "Your Name".

3) Our hope in Christ is a strength-renewing hope. "Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength" (Isaiah 40:31). This is the great passage that speaks of mounting up with wings like eagles.

4) Our hope in Christ is a fixed hope. "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" (1 John 3:2,3).

5) Our hope in Christ is an overflowing hope. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).

6) Our hope in Christ is a living hope. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 Peter 1:3).

The struggles and disappointments of life can be wearying and drain us of hope. If we go forth in our own strength or that of others we have come to rely on, we will soon find it is not enough and we will fail miserably. But when our hearts are filled with Spirit-empowered hope, our focus will bring images of heaven into clearer view helping to lift us above the present circumstances that deplete our strength, energy and faith. We will be stronger in our faith and in our resolve to remain firm in our walk with the Lord to our very last breath on this side of eternity.

Surely some of you are facing very trying circumstances as you read this message. We consider those in our own sphere of influence and pray for them. Today we encourage you to focus on the hope we have in Christ that does not change just because our circumstances do. We conclude our message with this thought-provoking saying: "Man's way leads to a hopeless end, but God's way leads to an endless hope." Amen!!!

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13.

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

Daily prayer: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13). Father, our hope is steadfast and sure as we trust in You for everything we have need of, most importantly, our salvation through Christ. We are grateful for Your divine presence and daily provision as we meet the challenges of each new day and each new year. Our hope does not dwindle due to these challenges, for we depend not on our own strength, wisdom, or standing with man. Instead we depend on the One who provides us with hope that is ever secure, constant, and strengthening. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.