Jesus Christ, my living hope
This song, “Living Hope” by Phil Wickham, has been such a battle cry in all of our worship environments. It’s a song that reminds us of the goodness of God. He is our only Hope, and He is a LIVING Hope.
“Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free
Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me
You have broken every chain
There’s salvation in Your name
Jesus Christ, my living hope“
The third verse of this song is a powerful declaration of the love God has for us. The depiction of the “Roaring Lion” rising from the dead to declare the powerlessness of the grave and the enemy is such a beautiful image of the love Jesus has for us. Even with the inclusion of the word “roaring,” it shows the power that our God had (and still has!) when He rose from the grave in victory.
Another great reminder of this same love is found in the second verse:
Who could imagine so great a mercy?
What heart could fathom such boundless grace?
The God of ages stepped down from glory
To wear my sin and bear my shame
The cross has spoken, I am forgiven
The King of kings calls me His own
Beautiful Savior, I’m Yours forever
Jesus Christ, my living hope
Those lines should make us rethink everything we’ve ever done that was not for Jesus, such as when we try to do things on our own, or we prioritize our agendas over spending time with Him. The fact that someone perfect stepped down to earth and humbled Himself to die on a cross so that we could live is so unfathomable.
The idea that the King of the whole world calls us His own is so mind-blowing! He created all of the mountains and oceans, but He still knows every thought and every hair on our heads. He knows us not just because He created us, but because He loves us enough to want to know every detail. We see His heart in how we love others, and it is such a great reminder that we are never forgotten, never forsaken, never left unloved, and never unheard because we worship a God who is so loving that He came and died for us. He created everything, yet He still wants us to be a part of His plan for the world. He loves us so much despite our constant sin and battle against Him. He is so good to us, and we do not deserve it.
“And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” Romans 8:11
This verse reminds us that we are filled with that same resurrection power. We see this resurrection power in the way we are able to live freely and not under the shame of our sins. He calls us to be a light to those around us, which can be accomplished by simply sharing His love. This can be uncomfortable, but when we remember that God’s power is what fills us, we can be encouraged by the One who lives inside us.
God is so good. I am continually in awe of how much He loves us, how He chooses to dwell within us, and how He uses us with His resurrection power.
Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, for being our Living Hope. Thank you that because of the cross, we are able to not only spend forever with you, but also know that we can trust You with our days because You work everything out for the good of those who love You. Thank you for taking the weight of my sin so that the veil could be torn between us (Matthew 27:51). Thank you for taking away the power of the grave. Thank You for your goodness and faithfulness. I love You, Jesus. Help me to keep my eyes on you so I may do Your will. In Your name I pray these things, Amen.
By Ashley Tschetter