Hope

At that pivotal moment when Jesus came back to life, we were set free with a “living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3, 4; emphasis added). We went from bondage to sin, which was leading us straight to death, to freedom and confidence that Jesus will return and we, too, will rise from the dead and live with Him forever. That’s some kind o’ hope! 

This hope not only gives us something to look forward to, but it also empowers us. When you think about it, what was it that made Jesus’ apostles willing to endure floggings, shipwrecks, stoning, imprisonment, and even death in their determination to tell others about Him? It was because they had seen the risen Lord! Paul writes of the “power of His resurrection” (Philippians 3:10) and how he desires to know that same power.

But not everyone shared the apostles’ passion to spread the Good News. Acts 22 records one instance when Paul was preaching in Jerusalem to a large crowd, laying out his personal story of going from a persecutor of the church to an ambassador of Christ. The crowd was hanging on every word. I bet they were thinking, Man, this guy is on it! . . . until Paul spoke these words: “Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles’” (Acts 22:21).

At that point, the crowd went completely nuts. They literally shouted, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!” (verse 22). One minute they were drinking in Paul’s story in quiet admiration. The next minute they were throwing off their cloaks and flinging dust into the air. . . .

You see, the Jews had no respect for the Gentiles. And they certainly didn’t believe that the promised Messiah came for anyone but the Jewish people. The idea that Jesus came for Jews and Gentiles alike was impossible for them to accept. Even the apostle Peter didn’t get it at first (see Galatians 2:11–14). But as Paul said, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).

The hope that you and I have in Jesus is for everyone. Jesus came to give real, living hope to a world filled with darkness and despair. When it comes to sin, we’re all captives, but in Jesus, we can all be set free. That’ll preach!

Taken from The Duck Commander Faith and Family Bible