The Hope Within You

 

The Hope Within You By Jared Green     “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:14-15).     When those around Peter’s audience could not understand why they would remain faithful to Jesus while being persecuted, Peter called them to be prepared to defend their hope. Why remain faithful to the Lord, even amid life’s difficulties? That is a question we all must be ready to answer.     The Israelites’ hope was found in God’s faithfulness to them. Just before Joshua’s death, he and the Israelites renewed their covenant with God. In Joshua 24:2-13, Joshua reminded the people of God’s unwavering faithfulness. God led Abraham through all the land of Canaan and gave him Isaac (v. 3). God then gave Jacob and Esau to Isaac, and Jacob’s family ended up in Egypt (v. 4). Years later, God sent Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh and plagued Egypt until the people were delivered (v. 5). When the Egyptians gave chase, God parted the Red Sea to provide Israel safe passage, while the Egyptians were swallowed up (vv. 6-7). God then brought Israel into the promised land, giving them victory over all who would stand in their way, so that the people could live in a land perfectly laid out by God for his people (vv. 8-13).     After Joshua recounted God’s faithful works, he called the people to put away their fathers’ false gods and serve the Lord alone. No matter what others chose to do, however, Joshua said, “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (v. 15). Having been reminded of God’s faithfulness, the people could not agree more. They answered Joshua, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods, for it is the LORD our God who brought us up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed” (vv. 16-17).     The Israelites’ hope and motivation to obedience was rooted in what God had done for them. The same should be true of us. We have experienced an even greater deliverance! “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5). What is the reason for our hope-filled obedience, even amid life’s difficulties? That God, in his mercy, sent Jesus to save us from our sins and reconcile us to himself. May we all echo Joshua’s great words: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 24:15). God loves you, and so do I.

- Jared Green preaches the Calvert City Church of Christ in Calvert City, KY. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://www.calvertchurchofchrist.com