Big Hope
Big Hope
Hebrews 13:14
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
Yesterday we looked at how our hope is often too small. The Jews in Jesus’ day wanted a change in circumstances, but God came to change their hearts.
And we’re no different.
We often become enamored with achievement, comfort, careers, and relationships—believing they can finally satisfy us. We place our hope in a candidate, a title, a degree, or even a spouse to fill what is empty within us. But every hope placed anywhere other than Christ will ultimately fail.
Augustine said it beautifully: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.”
Today, remember the Big Hope that belongs to every believer in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
We place our hope in the truth that the One who once dwelled among us will one day reign forever.
There is a day coming:
when the curse of the fall will no longer rest on us,
when life will finally be as it should,
where peace reigns,
where God’s presence is unmistakable,
where wars cease,
where pain and suffering fade,
when lions lie with lambs,
when weapons become farming tools.
Do you think about that day?
Do you long for that day?
Or have you become so consumed with the pace, pressure, and promises of this life that you rarely consider there is something more—something better?
This is the “city that is to come.”
This is our Big Hope.
Too Small of Hope
Hope Too Small
John 19:14b–16
Pilate said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 They cried out, “Away with him, away with him, crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” 16 So he delivered him over to them to be crucified.
When Jesus was born, the Jewish people were longing for the promised One who would finally change their situation. They expected a politically focused prince—a military-minded Messiah who would overthrow the heavy hand of Rome and restore the people of God to the land of God.
But when God fulfilled His promise, they were unwilling to accept what stood right in front of them.
Jesus was not what they expected—and honestly, not what they wanted.
They wanted a nation restored.
But God had bigger plans.
He came to restore hearts, not borders.
He came to reconcile the lost, not simply return what had been lost.
Their hope was too small.
What about you?
Is your version of God too small?
Is your hope in this life too limited?
Are you expecting God to prioritize earthly comfort over eternal transformation?
Are you asking God for things He never promised to give?
Are you demanding He meet your expectations, or else you dismiss what He’s already doing?
Here’s the question to sit with today:
Where have your expectations of God clouded your vision of how God is actually working?
The people hoped for a change in circumstances.
God came to change their hearts.
We often hope for the temporary.
But God offers the eternal.
Jesus a Friend to Sinners
Jesus: A Friend to Sinners
Luke 15:1–2
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
Matthew 11:19
“The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’”
My son’s favorite thing in the world is playing with friends. Within the first 60 seconds of being home, I know the question is coming: “Can I knock on a door?” Thankfully, we are blessed with neighbors all around us with kids for Cooper to play with. He’ll start at one house, and if no one is available, he’ll try the next three or four. I often joke that he is the feral child of our street. Sometimes he doesn’t even mind if the kids aren’t home—he’ll gladly talk with the parents as long as they’ll let him.
Cooper loves being with a friend. And honestly, so do we. Who doesn’t enjoy being with people we trust, enjoy, and feel free to be ourselves around? While Cooper is usually the one going door to door, every once in a while we hear a knock at our own front door. When that happens, he darts out of his room to answer. Great joy fills him when a friend comes knocking.
In Revelation 3:20—originally written to believers—Jesus says:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.”
Jesus, the friend of sinners, is knocking at our door. The Pharisees meant “friend of sinners” as an insult, but Jesus lived it as truth. He desires time with us. His knocking reframes how we think about our relationship with God. It’s not primarily about us trying to get His attention or wondering whether He will welcome us. It is Jesus—our friend—knocking on the door of our lives, wanting to be with us.
Do you see the reversal? Jesus enjoys time with us rather than refuses it. Friendship is mutual—it’s a two-way street. Too often I slip into thinking the relationship is all on me, that I have to keep Him pleased or earn His nearness. But Jesus doesn’t tolerate you. He wants you.
Whether you have many friends or whether you’re walking through a season of loneliness, remember this: you have a friend in Jesus who is knocking—gladly, patiently, faithfully—on the door of your heart today.
The Useful Tongue
Ephesians 4:29 – Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
For the majority of the week, our focus has been on the first half of this verse as we seek to combat corrupting talk; however, today I want to call your attention to the way we can use our words for good.
Words can harm or heal. Words can bruise or build up.
Ephesians 4:29 doesn’t just call us to avoid harmful talk; it calls us to actively use our words as instruments of grace. Our words ought to give grace because we are people who have received grace. How are you using your words?
While many of us seek to control our tongue from profanity, insult, or filthiness, are we seeking to employ our tongue to encourage others?
This is Jordan’s words, not God’s, but I honestly think you should be the most encouraging, uplifting, kind speaker in your workplace and other spheres of influence. Are you?
I know you want to justify why this is not so, but is that right? Be honest!
As a follower of Jesus Christ—seeking to live in response to His love, hoping to model His love, known by His love—how YOU use YOUR WORDS matters a great deal! This does not mean that we avoid hard conversations or direct corrections, but it does mean that even in difficult talks we actively seek to be gracious in our speech.
Who do you need to build up today?
Who needs your encouragement?
What hard conversation do you need to approach with intentional grace?
Pray:
Psalm 19:14 — Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
The Divided Tongue
James 3:9–10
With [our tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
On Sunday, I used the example of someone stopping mid-sentence with, “I can’t say that in church.” Which begs the question: Should you say it outside of church? If so, how far away from the church do you need to be for it to be acceptable?
James’ point is hard to miss: How can you praise God and slander His people with the same mouth? How can you oscillate so easily between the highest form of speech and the lowest? James is not just confronting inconsistent speech; he is confronting a divided heart.
To make this practical, imagine if your speech were evaluated as closely as the media you consume. On the Internet Movie Database (IMDB), every show and movie includes a content section. Under the “Language” category, it lists how many profanity uses, insults, or derogatory remarks appear. Imagine receiving a similar breakdown for your words yesterday. Would you be proud of what appeared under the “Language” category of your life?
I do not want us to pass by this thought too quickly. What words do you regret saying? What comments were unnecessary or unhelpful? Would you be willing to turn your language content in to me?
I don’t want us simply to think negatively, though. What good use of language did you have? Were there moments of praise or prayer? Did you encourage or enlighten someone with your words?
I urge you now to think back over a few conversations from yesterday. What are you proud of? What needs to be confessed or corrected? What opportunities were missed?
Pray this verse:
Ephesians 5:4 – Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.