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My favorite necklace broke this week.
It was an anchor necklace. I actually haven’t taken this off for many years. It is a reference to Hebrews 6:19 – we have this HOPE as an anchor for our souls. It has been an important part of my healing over the last decade. My HOPE is in Christ and the HOPE of heaven.
Our culture uses that word a lot but not always the way it is used in Scripture. Sometimes it is just wishing.
But biblical HOPE is far more.
John MacArthur says that
HOPE is the Christian’s anchor chain, connecting him inseparably to God’s throne.
I love that. Read it again. Hope is the Christian’s anchor chain, connecting him inseparably to God’s throne.
When I got this necklace many years ago, the box said, “Refuse to sink!” Just think about that for a moment. Isn’t the entire point of an anchor to sink? Otherwise it holds to nothing. That is a perfect example of how the world twists the whole concept. Our HOPE is not just wishing or willing something to happen. Our HOPE is firmly and securely connected to the person of Christ Jesus.
As believers, what do we HOPE in?
I see in Scripture, several things.
- We HOPE in a person – God the Father:
Let your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Psalm 33:22 (ESV) - We HOPE in Scripture:
You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your word.
Psalm 119:114 (ESV) - We are filled with HOPE from the Holy Spirit:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13 (ESV) - We HOPE in our eternal life with Christ:
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
1 Corinthians 15:19 (ESV)
So let’s pause a moment today and consider what our HOPE is in. Is it in the security of a bank account? In today’s economy, we know that could be gone in an instant. Is it in a new husband? We also know death can come in an instant. Could we put our HOPE in a new president or new laws? Not even that will help us. So in a practical way, how do we practice biblical HOPE?
It happens when we take the time to spend with God in His Word. I know it is hard to do that daily sometimes. We get busy or our mind wanders. But it is something we (I) should commit to daily. Even if it is just a verse or two. Practicing biblical HOPE comes in a similar way as exercising in the gym… we have to build the muscles.
Many widows have appreciated the daily short devotionals written by our team members over the years. It is a great way to get into the practice of spending time in God’s Word. And as you heal, you may want to do your own studies in Scripture. Either way, you will find God’s Word is full of HOPE. I will put a link to some great devotional books at the bottom of this post.
Let’s commit to building our HOPE muscles each day.
This certain hope of being saved is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, connecting us with God himself behind the sacred curtains of heaven, where Christ has gone ahead to plead for us from his position as our High Priest, with the honor and rank of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 6:19-20 (Living Bible)
