What is a Living Hope?

Author: Pastor Kyle Torrence

Acts 1:11—They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.”

In Acts 4, Peter and John boldly proclaim Jesus’s name despite religious leaders’ opposition. Their courage in the face of adversity was rooted in the living hope in Christ.

In Acts 5, we see Ananias and Sapphira faced with the consequences of dishonesty toward God. It reminds us of the importance of genuine faith and integrity within the community of believers and the world. It was a great reminder that we are called to live authentically, allowing the transformative power of Christ in our everyday lives.

Acts 13 brings us the encounter of Paul and Barnabas and their missionary journey. We see their commitment to spreading the gospel of the living hope that propels believers to share the life-changing message with the world. This chapter inspires us to actively participate in God’s redemptive plan, fueled by the hope that others may experience salvation through Christ.

These examples show us what it means to have a living hope, but let’s be honest. Often, we don’t see the small moments that could impact our hope.

To bring this all to a personal level, I was recently in my truck with our daughters. We had just finished running some errands, and I was in a traffic intersection. I was making a left-hand turn and waiting for a distracted driver to choose to turn or go straight. I made a comment I thought was only to myself but quickly realized I was not alone in the car.

I had uttered the words, “Come on, dummy. Go already!” My “middle-est” daughter ( Not the littlest) cut through my concentration and gasped!

She was very offended that I had not shown the love of Jesus, and she let me know of my mistake! It hit me that I had not demonstrated Jesus in this moment with my daughter’s presence. I was aggravated and let my mouth overtake me. Now, some may say that was a minimal offense. But my daughter saw her dad make a statement that contradicted my teaching to my daughters. We spent the next several minutes praying for the driver and daddy to have more patience and show Jesus to all! (Be careful, little mouth what you say.)

The living hope we find in Acts is not static; it’s dynamic, shaping our responses to life’s challenges. When faced with opposition, let us emulate the boldness of Peter and John, trusting in the hope that surpasses any earthly circumstance. In times of moral decision-making, may the story of Ananias and Sapphira remind us of the importance of integrity, as our actions bear witness to the hope residing within us.

Reflection

Think of a recent situation where you had to choose between expressing living hope or succumbing to frustration. How did that moment influence your understanding of living hope in your daily life?