“The Faith > Hope Equation”

The FAITH >< HOPE equation:

It has been said that hope is the “blueprint” for faith.

In ‘the natural’, a blueprint is a is the foundation for something that is to be built and will come to pass. Our Godly hope is the foundation for our faith and trust in God. Romans 5:5  says, “…hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” And that faith, in turn, is honored by God. How many times did Jesus say, “Your faith has made you well,” ( Luke 17:19), or “be it done to you according to your faith.” (Matt 9:29)?

Jesus always responded and received whatever faith was expressed by each person.

Our hope has to be in the right place: in God, not in man; and not even in our ourselves, but in God alone.

God does not disappoint.

There are examples in the Gospels of how people approached Jesus. Which of these can you identify with?

● The woman with the issue of blood. [Mark 5: 25-34]

The woman had hope, born of what she had already seen and heard. In faith, she acted on the basis of her hope, and her hope was rewarded, not only with her healing, but the restoration of her life.

● Blind Bartimaeus.  [Mark 10:46-52]

Blind Bartimaeus had not seen the healing power of God, but heard of His power to heal and restore. That gave him hope, and in faith he cried out and his cry was heard…and he was healed.

● The man lowered through the roof. [Luke 5: 17-39]

This man had friends who saw his need, and they acted in faith along with his, to do the unthinkable. This was a desperate hope, acted on in faith by friends that brought him to Christ.

● The man at the Pool of Siloam. [John 5: 2-9]

This man had seen some miraculous healings, and tried to put himself physically in a position to receive. But he could not get there alone and had no one to help him. God saw his need. And though he wasn’t seeking Jesus, Jesus sought him out and he had a life-changing encounter with the Son of the Living God.

● Zacchaeus in the sycamore tree.  [Luke 19: 1-10]

Zacchaeus seems to be more curious than hopeful, but there apparently was some deep need inside him for more of God, and he would not let anything, including his small stature, prevent him from seeking this Jesus that he had heard so much about. I think Jesus knew and saw his heart-cry toward God, and singled him from among the crowd. His hope of experiencing more of God led to action, and the faith that motivated that action was rewarded with a life-changing encounter with Jesus.

YOUR ANSWER IS ON THE HORIZON