Hope Challenge…

Lots of things are contagious – mostly stuff we don’t want to catch. Like the flu or the common cold.

My husband used to have a poster in his office that said ‘Attitudes are Contagious – Is Yours Worth Catching?’ I think the same can be said of Hope. For the last five weeks I’ve pondered and written about that four letter word and what it really is. I’ve gone to the most reliable source (the Bible) and I’ve tried to get a whole lot more of h-o-p-e down in my soul.

Are you a little short on supply? “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.” (1Timothy 6:17 NLT)

Ours for the asking – and the sharing. Need a little peace, ask the Giver. Need rest, find it in your Shelter. Need h-o-p-e, find it in the only Source.

We forget, that though we may feel empty, inept, unable, wandering, weak – God doesn’t, isn’t. He richly supplies us – because His storehouse of all we need never runs out. With that truth in mind I think He’s calling us not to gather only what we need, but to let the abundance flow out of us. Because, let’s face it, we’re not the only ones who need refueling. A world is dying without hope – and we have the answer to the emptiness.

“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else…May He strengthen your hearts” (1Thessalonians 3:12a, 13a NIV)

Even loving others is something we need Jesus for. He makes our love overflow. Jesus proved that the more of Himself He gave away, the more the good news reached souls. Care to give a little hope away today? The work God will do in our hearts as we expand them to give away our endless Resource, will far outweigh the effort.

It’s a Hope Challenge. To take it means we have to be sold out mind, body, and soul that eternity is ours – and then we have to make it known. “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect” (1Peter 3:15 NIV)