“The Power of Memory and Hope“, by Rev. Mike Holly
Paul, the author of Romans, says that hope that is seen is not hope. Now what does he mean by this? He is trying to coney to us all that the hope we have in God is a hope we cannot test, measure or observe. Our hope is what lies in a future that we cannot see. We are told about it and we long for it, but we cannot see it just yet. Trust is required.
As Christians, we know there is power in hope. The hope of what God will do has energized the people of God to serve others for 2,000 years, even with periodic persecutions. However, there is also power in memory. The Bible reminds us time and time again of how God did act for his people, such as when be liberated Israel from captivity in Egypt. Christians live in that powerful space between memory and hope by the grace of the Spirit.
This Memorial Day weekend, let us be thankful for the brave and courageous ones who gave their lives in love and service to the people of our nation. May their witness be an empowering memory for us all as we lean into a future with hope.
~Mike Holly
The Word
Romans 8:22-27
We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 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 is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
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