Hope For Tomorrow

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope.”

1 Timothy 1:1 (NIV) 

The world’s media associated the word “hope” with the inauguration of the new president of the United States. Many are hopeful that things will change for the better. They are looking to the new president as the one and only hope for a safer, fairer and better world.  Establishing such a world is a tall order for any human being.

 God is the only One who can usher in a safer, fairer and better world, and that is exactly what he is in the process of doing in and through Jesus Christ, who alone has the mandate and authority to establish such a world. 

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me’” (Matthew 28:18). It hasn’t been given to anyone else! 

As Christians, our hope and trust is in Jesus Christ and the great salvation, which He has secured for us and ultimately the whole world. “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet” (1 Thessalonians 5:8). 

Hope is one of the three great spiritual gifts; faith and love are the other two. Many are putting their trust and hope in the new president.  In the Bible we are clearly instructed to put our trust in Jesus who is our hope (John 14:1) and to pray for the new president, which is something that pleases our Saviour.  “I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Saviour who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:1-3). 

Praying for our national leaders pleases Jesus Christ. Why pray for the governing authorities? “Everyone must submit himself (or herself) to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he (or she) who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves” (Romans 13:1-2). 

Jesus has already prepared a better world to replace this corrupt one in which we live today. There is hope for tomorrow but many are sadly blinded to this fact. 

Prayer

May we all pray the prayer Paul recorded in Romans 15:13:   “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit”.

Amen 

Study by Sherwin Scott