"An Introduction To Hope"

September 12, 2024 | By Chuck

 Something hit me recently in my study time that I have apparently overlooked for years. Interestingly I found it in the first sentence of Paul’s first letter to Timothy. See if you notice it. “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope.” (I Timothy 1:1) Paul introduces Jesus as “our hope.” I have read this many times and never gave much thought to it; but when you think about it, Jesus is our hope. He is our only hope.

            There is trouble in this world and far too often we tend to find it. Between the negativity that is all around us and our struggle with the desires of the flesh, we forget about hope. With everything that is going on in our world today, it is so easy to miss hope and even believe there really is no hope. Then we read a seemingly mindless introduction to a God-inspired text and are introduced to hope all over again. Hope by the name of Jesus Christ. “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

            The beautiful thing about hope is that it is real and does in fact exist through Jesus. Through Jesus we can have hope no matter the circumstances we face in this life. Life’s turmoil and perils do not take away or change the hope we have in Jesus. And the hope we have in Jesus is a hope that far exceeds the best of what this world could ever offer. I love that Paul referred to Jesus as “our hope.” And, I love that those powerful and inspired words were finally noticed by my feeble eyes and heart. Just know, when you introduce someone to Jesus, you introduce them to hope. The only one who is without hope is the one who is without Jesus.