Hope
Hebrews 6:13-20
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."
(Hebrews 6:19)
During the all-night chaplain shift at a hospital, I was paged to a room where a patient was dying. Asking God for His presence in a fresh way and that others would sense Him, I walked into the room. There lay an old gentleman with his family gathered around; wife holding his hand; one daughter humming hymns of faith while another rubbed his forehead. Several grandchildren were at his bedside with hands resting on him. His Bible, open to Psalm 23, was near his pillow. I realized they were all in His grip with tremendous hope deeply anchored in Christ. What a ministry they were to me during those hours! We sang and prayed, and God gently took the man Home.
The author of Hebrews says hope is an "anchor for the soul." Our hope is in Christ Himself, secure and immovable as a ship's anchor firmly set in the ocean floor. Whether we face illness, persecution, uncertainty, or even death, hope allows God's children to endure. Hope in Christ is the inner strength He gives, and no one can take it away.
INSIGHT
"There is no pit so deep that His love is not deeper still." (Corrie ten Boom)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 15-16
Psalm 50
Luke 13
Hebrews 6:13-20
The Certainty of God’s Promise
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[a] 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Conquerors
Romans 8:25-38
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
(Romans 8:37)
One of the most pleasant assignments as a Reserve Police Officer was working security at high school football games. For the most part, everyone enjoyed being there. At the start of the evening, both teams presumed they'd end up the conquerors and champions that night. Time would tell who the winner would be.
Scripture reminds us that we are conquerors... even more than conquerors. The Greek words here describe one who is super victorious. It's the picture of one who wins more than an ordinary victory; it indicates abundant victory. That ought to make you think of none other than Jesus Christ.
Consider these aspects of victory in Jesus: First, we are joined with Christ. Nothing can separate us from His love (v. 38-39). Second, we enjoy the power of His Spirit (v. 26-27). Third, we are under His protection (v. 28-30). Fourth, we are simply overwhelmed by His love (v. 35-37). These verses emphasize that because of our Champion, Jesus, we are more than conquerors...we already know that we win!
INSIGHT
The Champion of your very life, the One who has won the more-than-ordinary victory, is your Friend and Redeemer, Jesus.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 17-18
Psalm 51
Luke 14
Romans 8:25-38
25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
More Than Conquerors
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[b]
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[c] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
Hebrews 6:13-20
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."
(Hebrews 6:19)
During the all-night chaplain shift at a hospital, I was paged to a room where a patient was dying. Asking God for His presence in a fresh way and that others would sense Him, I walked into the room. There lay an old gentleman with his family gathered around; wife holding his hand; one daughter humming hymns of faith while another rubbed his forehead. Several grandchildren were at his bedside with hands resting on him. His Bible, open to Psalm 23, was near his pillow. I realized they were all in His grip with tremendous hope deeply anchored in Christ. What a ministry they were to me during those hours! We sang and prayed, and God gently took the man Home.
The author of Hebrews says hope is an "anchor for the soul." Our hope is in Christ Himself, secure and immovable as a ship's anchor firmly set in the ocean floor. Whether we face illness, persecution, uncertainty, or even death, hope allows God's children to endure. Hope in Christ is the inner strength He gives, and no one can take it away.
INSIGHT
"There is no pit so deep that His love is not deeper still." (Corrie ten Boom)
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 15-16
Psalm 50
Luke 13
Hebrews 6:13-20
The Certainty of God’s Promise
13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”[a] 15 And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
16 People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. 17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. 18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Conquerors
Romans 8:25-38
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."
(Romans 8:37)
One of the most pleasant assignments as a Reserve Police Officer was working security at high school football games. For the most part, everyone enjoyed being there. At the start of the evening, both teams presumed they'd end up the conquerors and champions that night. Time would tell who the winner would be.
Scripture reminds us that we are conquerors... even more than conquerors. The Greek words here describe one who is super victorious. It's the picture of one who wins more than an ordinary victory; it indicates abundant victory. That ought to make you think of none other than Jesus Christ.
Consider these aspects of victory in Jesus: First, we are joined with Christ. Nothing can separate us from His love (v. 38-39). Second, we enjoy the power of His Spirit (v. 26-27). Third, we are under His protection (v. 28-30). Fourth, we are simply overwhelmed by His love (v. 35-37). These verses emphasize that because of our Champion, Jesus, we are more than conquerors...we already know that we win!
INSIGHT
The Champion of your very life, the One who has won the more-than-ordinary victory, is your Friend and Redeemer, Jesus.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Job 17-18
Psalm 51
Luke 14
Romans 8:25-38
25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[a] have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
More Than Conquerors
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[b]
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[c] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,
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