Embodying Hope

I love to do word studies.

I am especially fascinated with words and their meaning as found in the Bible. I embarked this week on a study of the word hope and have found something rather fascinating. The most common word translated as hope in the Bible is the Greek word elpis, pronounced el peace. It means “to anticipate with pleasure” or “joyful and confident expectation.” Strangely enough, this word is not prevalent in the Gospels.

As I thought about this, I found the following passage: “For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance” (Romans 8:24,25, NKJV). Hope that is seen is not hope . . . That is it! Jesus was in the world.

He was made flesh—God with us.

The disciples could touch Him, hug Him, see Him, and hear Him.

Jesus was the actual embodiment of hope.

He was a walking, breathing, joyful fulfillment of hope.

Everything Jesus did, from healing the sick, encouraging the weak, blessing children, eating with sinners, and setting the captives free to teaching about the kingdom of God, brought hope to all willing to receive it. As His disciples, we have the privilege of bringing this hope to the world. Every time we do the things that Jesus did, we bring hope.

As we bring this hope to our corner of the world, it does something miraculous in us: it strengthens our hope as well.

We are the disciples who are not able to currently see and touch Jesus as His first disciples did. But we have something just as incredible.

Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we have Christ in us—and there is nothing so close as that. Though we do not currently see Jesus, we eagerly wait, with perseverance, for the day of His return. Until then, we have the promise of the Holy Spirit.

When the love of God is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, He will empower us to accomplish His mission on earth.

All we have to do is ask Him—and we will not be disappointed.

Lee Lee Dart