“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”
Philippians 3:12
Hope refuses to dwell on a sin-filled past or become discouraged by a sin-plagued present. Instead, hope hunkers down on the gospel grounds of Christ crucified and hangs onto the promise of Christ’s future glory. There will always be weakness, frailty, and setbacks in our ongoing struggle against sin. “But one thing I do,” Paul encourages us, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13–14).
As pilgrims wandering this earth, faith starts us down the path, and hope keeps us walking. While faith locates us, hope orients us. We put our faith in what Christ has done, and we set our hope on what He has yet to do. Hope is faith facing forward. Like the lover who is separated from her beloved, connected only by the periodic letters that she receives, it is faith that accepts his promise to return, but hope that looks out the window with eager expectation. Hope is never apart from Christ.
As pilgrims wandering this earth, faith starts us down the path, and hope keeps us walking. While faith locates us, hope orients us. We put our faith in what Christ has done, and we set our hope on what He has yet to do. Hope is faith facing forward. Like the lover who is separated from her beloved, connected only by the periodic letters that she receives, it is faith that accepts his promise to return, but hope that looks out the window with eager expectation. Hope is never apart from Christ.
Scripture Focus
Hebrews 12:1-11
Insight
“O that Christians would learn to live with one eye on Christ crucified and the other on his coming glory.” (Richard Baxter, 1830)
Bible In A Year
- Numbers 23-24
- Psalm 73
- John 14-15
