Choose Hope

Choose Hope. 

We know that,  

...in and through Jesus, God is at work reconciling, restoring, renewing...making all things new – that's the glorious truth at the heart of this thing we call the gospel. 

God.... 

dealing with sin, 

with brokenness. 

Breathing life into what was once dead, 

casting light into dark places. 

As Christians, that’s our hope.  

And we are to be people of hope... 

...confidently expecting all that is to come, 

...eagerly living out of the resurrection now. 

Knowing that the resurrection is our certainty of all that God has promised. 

First-fruits. The foretaste. 

Anticipating...yearning for...praying for...the completion of all that God is up to. 

Actively participating with the God of Hope as 

...agents of Hope...bearers of Hope...messengers of Hope...offerers of Hope...proclaimers of Hope. 

We are to be people of Hope. 

Hopeful. Hope-filled. Hope-fuelled. 

Choose Hope. 

There’s a beautiful story in John 5 about a man. 

Crippled for thirty-eight years. 

Every day sitting by a pool. 

Trusting in some superstitious belief about the waters having healing powers. 

And then Jesus shows up. 

Sees the man. Hears his story. And asks him: “Do you want to get well?” 

Pause. Dig deeper. What’s Jesus really doing? 

I think.... 

...exposing...uncovering...helping the man see the futility of hoping in the wrong things...of hoping in the wrong places...the wrong people. 

And, at the same time, offering hope. 

Listen to me. Trust me. 

In me, God’s Kingdom is breaking in. 

I alone can meet your deepest needs...your deepest longings. 

I alone can breathe healing into your brokenness. 

I alone can restore your weary soul. 

In me is restoration. 

In me is wholeness. 

In me is life. 

In me is hope. 

Choose me. 

Choose Hope. 

And I think his invitation to us is the same. 

Choose him. 

Choose hope. 

And open ourselves to all he wants to begin to do in our lives. 

Open ourselves to new life. 

To resurrection. 

To life. To light. 

Hope for the downcast. Hope for weary marriages. Hope for broken friendships. Hope for broken spirits. Hope for the dejected. Hope for the discouraged. Hope for troubled minds. 

The question to each of us is the same...I think. 

Do you want to get well? Do you want to know shalom? 

Open yourself to the wonderful work of Jesus in your life. 

Choose hope.