A Nugget from New Life Network
(by Dr. Larry Ollison)
Scripture for the Day – April 23, 2020
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5).
While listening to a sermon by a traveling minister, I kept hearing him make the following statement. He said, “Wishin’ and hopin’ never got anybody anything. God doesn’t give two cents if you hope. He only responds to faith.” I know that there is some truth in what he was saying. However, we cannot condemn people who are in hope. Hope is a good thing. Hope is not from the devil. Actually, hope is a God quality.
First Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Yes, it is true that love is greater than hope, but notice that hope made it to the top three! Hope is good and as Christians we are told that we are not to give up our confession of hope.
It is true that faith and hope are two different things, but hope is essential in attaining faith. We must pass through the land of hope on our way to faith. Bible hope is the intent expectation of the good thing from God that’s on its way. A hope confession is this: “I believe I will be healed.” “I believe I will be delivered.” “I know God’s promise is on its way.” These confessions are good. It is true that they are not faith confessions because they are confessing what is going to come. That’s hope.
A faith confession is in the now. A faith confession is: “I am healed.” “I am delivered.” “I have God’s promise now.” This is a faith confession.
I believe God’s ultimate desire for us is to walk in faith. God’s world is a faith world. But as we grow toward faith, we move through hope. We should never criticize, condemn, or offend someone walking in hope.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
