Day 305: Hope

1 Peter 1; Jeremiah 31-32; Psalm 134

Peter talks a lot about hope. We get our hope from Jesus, because he was raised to life and has something glorious for us when he returns. We are to put all our hope in "how kind God will be" when Christ appears. Despite our sufferings we have hope because what awaits us and our faith is so much more valuable than gold. I truly believe that real hope, steadfast hope, unshakable hope, is what sets apart followers of The Lord from those that do not. Besides being washed clean and saved by God's grace, an attitude of all-conquering hope is available to believers that non-believers cannot imagine. It is this hope and faith that cause them to think we are crazy, but of course they do, how do you explain it to someone who has not been transformed by it?

A lot of what Jeremiah is, is a promise that one day God will restore his people, give them land, prosperity, and joy. It's about hope. God tells them not to lose hope even though he is punishing them now, even though they are captives at this time, even though they have been so disobedient as to be taken prisoners. The Lord doesn't abandon them or leave them hanging; he gives them hope that he will one day rescue and restore them.