DON'T LOSE HOPE!
Two years before becoming America’s first president of African descent, the then Senator Barack Obama wrote the book ‘The Audacity of HOPE’. In his first run for the presidency in 2008 his campaign slogan was ‘Yes We Can’. A big part of his successful run for the presidency then was igniting among the voters a renewed HOPE for America’s future. But for some people the HOPE they had in 2008 evaporated over the next four years and so they found it difficult to vote for him this year. Yet President Obama’s message of HOPE was obviously not totally LOST because a few weeks ago he was re-elected for a second term under the slogan ‘Forward’. For those who were not convinced of his message this time around they may be guilty of today’s FF which is DON’T LOSE HOPE!
HOPE is never about the present. It is always focused on the future. HOPE is centered on our aspirations and expectations. We HOPE for what we donÂ’t have. HOPE says to us that things will get better not worse. HOPE is having optimism that what is to come cannot be compared to what is. And so it is nothing less than human tragedy if for whatever reason we should LOSE HOPE. For when we do LOSE HOPE then it impacts everything else that we believe and do. So the one who has LOST HOPE in the justice system may take the law into his/her own hand. The person who is without HOPE about the purpose of life may choose to commit suicide. Yes, there are dire consequences so whatever happens, DONÂ’T LOSE HOPE.
ItÂ’s one thing to LOSE HOPE in human institutions or political leaders. But the sad truth is that there are some people who have even LOST HOPE in the Church too as an institution, its members and leaders. And for these people they can always find a justification for the LOST HOPE. It may be due to something that happened to them or someone close to them that they still find hard to get pass. There is no single answer for such persons. But even if some are on the brink of LOSING HOPE in the Church and other Christians because of our poor witness, the thrust of todayÂ’s FF is to encourage that regardless of the fallout, ultimately DONÂ’T LOSE HOPE in God. Since HOPE is about the future and only God knows the future, then we dare not LOSE HOPE in God.
But that can happen because life provides us with more than enough reasons to LOSE HOPE in God. But the HOPE which looks only to this life is not HOPE. After all “HOPE that is seen is not HOPE. For who HOPES for what he sees? But if we HOPE for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Rom. 8: 24 – 25) And let’s not forget that Christ centered HOPE looks beyond this life. For “if our HOPE in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.” (1 Cor. 15: 19) So as we embark upon the season of Advent awaiting and HOPING for the return of Christ, DON’T LOSE HOPE. Rather take an attitude in life where we chose to “rejoice in HOPE.” (Rom. 12:12) With God, it will get better. A God-caused change will come so DON’T LOSE HOPE!
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/serendipity/index.php?/categories/1-Friday-Focus
ItÂ’s one thing to LOSE HOPE in human institutions or political leaders. But the sad truth is that there are some people who have even LOST HOPE in the Church too as an institution, its members and leaders. And for these people they can always find a justification for the LOST HOPE. It may be due to something that happened to them or someone close to them that they still find hard to get pass. There is no single answer for such persons. But even if some are on the brink of LOSING HOPE in the Church and other Christians because of our poor witness, the thrust of todayÂ’s FF is to encourage that regardless of the fallout, ultimately DONÂ’T LOSE HOPE in God. Since HOPE is about the future and only God knows the future, then we dare not LOSE HOPE in God.
But that can happen because life provides us with more than enough reasons to LOSE HOPE in God. But the HOPE which looks only to this life is not HOPE. After all “HOPE that is seen is not HOPE. For who HOPES for what he sees? But if we HOPE for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” (Rom. 8: 24 – 25) And let’s not forget that Christ centered HOPE looks beyond this life. For “if our HOPE in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.” (1 Cor. 15: 19) So as we embark upon the season of Advent awaiting and HOPING for the return of Christ, DON’T LOSE HOPE. Rather take an attitude in life where we chose to “rejoice in HOPE.” (Rom. 12:12) With God, it will get better. A God-caused change will come so DON’T LOSE HOPE!
Mikie Roberts (Rev)
HereÂ’s the link for the blog. Join in the discussions.
http://moravians.net/serendipity/index.php?/categories/1-Friday-Focus
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