Hope
by Faye Schmidt
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Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming (1 Peter 1:13).
Read 1 Peter 1:13–25
Where will we set our hope today, in this life, on this side of eternity? That’s what Peter is addressing in verse 13.
What does it mean to set or fix our hope on something? It’s a question of where we will turn to find meaning in our lives, find relief from suffering and fill up the emptiness that every soul experiences.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning together as it suffers together the pains of labour, and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, for who hopes for what one already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience (Romans 8:22–25).
With what will we occupy our hearts? In what will we invest our thoughts, energy and focus? If all that Peter has told us so far in this letter is true – that we, as Christians, will be resurrected as Christ was, that God guards us and our inheritance with him in eternity and that our salvation is secure – there is only one logical place to set our hope. That is in God’s grace for us at the future coming of Jesus, the moment in which all the longings of our hearts will be fully satisfied.
We must take control of where our thoughts go and what our minds dwell on. If we do not fully engage in intentional hope-setting, we will be easily distracted by the false hope of satisfaction that the world continually offers us.
Heavenly Father, along with faith and love, hope is a gift you give us through the Holy Spirit. I pray that my hope is always in you and that I am not distracted from this gift that promises me eternal life through the resurrection of Jesus, my Saviour. Amen.
Faye Schmidt continues her diaconal calling through governance, having served on the Vic–Tas District Church Board, the General Church Board and currently as chair of her congregation, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide. Having lived and worked in many locations within Australia and overseas, Faye has a heart for the stranger and the newcomer and for being open to new ideas, learning from others and responding to needs.
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