Community News: 9/4/2024
Community –
Hope is a powerful thing. Because it’s such a powerful thing, hope is commoditized and sold all around us. It’s championed in political campaigns. It’s highlighted by sport teams. It’s sold by marketing firms.
Hope, though, is more than a marketing campaign. Biblically, hope is “something tangible towards which believers look as an eventual reality and around which they oriented their present lives” (Leland Ryken). Hope is described as a door, opening our lives to God’s provision (Hos. 2:15). Hope is called an anchor, securing our lives to God amid life’s chaos and storms (Heb. 6:19). Hope is also a helmet, protecting us from the attacks of this world (1 Thess. 5:8).
How has HOPE been a doorway through which you experienced God’s work?
How has HOPE been an anchor in your life, securing you in life’s storms?
How has HOPE been a helmet to you, protecting you from the attacks of darkness?
Hope is a big deal!
But hope itself isn’t the truly powerful agent in our lives. The power is in the object to which we attach our hope. Is our hope in God – or in our own abilities? Is our hope in God – or in our favored outcome during the election season? During this season of transition at Community, are we hoping in God – or hoping in a person, a position, or a program?
Hope itself can fail us. It can leave us weary and tired. It can leave us heartbroken and hurt. But if our hope is in the Lord, we will find renewed strength!
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall.
But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar like eagles; they will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not be faint.
– Isaiah 40:28-31
If you’ve felt some weariness over the past 18 months of transition, let’s take some time to “renew our strength” by rightly anchoring our hope to God. Don’t put your hope in me. Don’t hope in the board. Don’t hope in the Aspire Network. Don’t hope in a new strategy or approach. All of the above have a good and necessary place in our church, but put your hope in God. We’ve got some big announcements to discuss this Sunday (9/8) and next (9/15) – but whether they excite you or frustrate you, put your hope in God! Whether you’re feeling optimistic or weary, hope in God. Whatever celebrations or challenges we may have together in the coming weeks, put your hope in God.
“Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” Yes, Lord, may it be!
Hopeful –
Pastor Brett
P.S. Again, Town Hall this Sunday (9/8) and next Sunday (9/15) – both at 11am in the worship center.
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