100 Days of HopeSample

Foreword

When Christ “for our sake … became poor,” He gave us an extravagant gift.Through one act, He changed the course of history, entering into our poverty and brokenness so that we might experience redemption, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

Even more extraordinary, He has invited us to participate in His radical story of grace! 

That’s why we invited the HOPE family—clients, staff, and supporters—to share how Christ is moving in their lives as they reflect on the Word and extend Christ’s message of reconciliation to others.

As you read, you will journey through 100 reflections on Scripture, dwelling on God’s remarkable generosity to us. You will also see photos from around the world taken by HOPE staff and our friend Andy Kristian Agaba. As we see these photos, we remember that Christ’s story of restoration is being unleashed in our lives and in the lives of others around the world.

Through 100 Days of Hope, we also invite you to celebrate Christ at work over the first 15 years of HOPE’s story. What began as an outreach activity of a church from Lancaster, PA, to assist 12 individuals from Zaporozhye, Ukraine, in starting small businesses has flourished beyond what anyone envisioned. We celebrate the lives touched through this ministry, and our desire is that all honor and glory goes to our great and mighty God.

As we embark on the next 15 years, we are so incredibly grateful for the privilege of joining together to celebrate this story of grace being lived out among us and in the lives of clients around the world.

Peter Greer
President and CEO, HOPE International

Enter Into Joy

In the Parable of the Talents, Jesus explains that the coming Kingdom will be like a man who has entrusted his servants with his property—each of His servants given different amounts according to their ability. Even though it was little, the two faithful servants invested what they were given and returned twice the amount to their master. At this He invited the servants to “enter into the joy of your master.”

Often we are like the third servant, however, who in fear and laziness hid that which was entrusted to him. Instead of investing his talent and creating more value, he only gave back what was given to him and was called “worthless.”

Praise the Lord our worth is found not in the amount or type of “talents” given to us, but instead in how we respond to that which God has entrusted us. What a wonderful master we serve to entrust us with his possessions! Not only that, but when we demonstrate faithful obedience through his grace, he promises us much more.

Find strength and empowerment today knowing that the Creator finds worth in you to entrust you with the gifts you have. Respond with the attitude of a faithful servant so that when the day comes you may hear the Master beckon you saying, “Enter into my joy.”

Prayer: Lord, I praise you for the gifts you have entrusted to me. Help me to be a good steward of those gifts and use them to your glory. Thank you for the confidence I have to use these gifts because of your love!