The blessing of hope.

Dum spiro spero---one of the Latin phrases on the Great Seal of South Carolina. The seal depicts the victory of South Carolina revolutionary troops over the British navy at Sullivan's Island on June 28, 1776. There are several Latin phrases on the seal but dum spiro spero was adopted as the motto of South Carolina. While I breathe I hope. Our founding father's envisioned us as a people of hope in perpetuity.

Hope is significant biblical theme. From a spiritual perspective personal hope is a gift from God, the faithful Father who created and sustains of all things. In the Christian worldview hope is "...when God has promised that something is going to happen and you put your trust in that promise. Christian hope is a confidence that something will come to pass because God has promised it will come to pass" (John Piper, Desiring God, March 3, 2008). To read the article click here. Hope is not wishful thinking or an expression of our desires. It is grounded in the character of God and is the essence of personal faith---

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11: 1, ESV

The Apostle Paul's letter to the persecuted Christians in Rome connects human suffering with hope . Make note of Paul's words---

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand,

and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our

sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces

character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because

God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given

to us.

Romans 5: 2-5, ESV

In the Christian worldview hope isn't a spiritual gift or fruit of the Spirit. Hope is the blessing God gives to his people when they learn the disciplines of endurance that produce Christian character.

Of course, there is cultural hope, an optimistic desire that something will be fulfilled. It is not confident or guaranteed because it is grounded in human thought. People change, circumstances change, and our desires, outlooks, and expectations change with them. This hope is not firm or secure or the product of absolute truth. It is formulated on the whims of human thought, institutions, finances, education, government, social systems, jurisprudence, and other wavering principles.

Biblical hope is portrayed as an anchor, solid and immovable as we face the realities of daily life. The anonymous author of the Epistle to the Hebrews wrote---

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner

sanctuary behind the curtain,where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.

Hebrews 6: 19-20, NIV

So, here we are, isolated by the little known Covid-19 virus. At this point outcomes of the pandemic are debated even among the medical professionals---duration, death tolls, infectious potential, rate of transmission, cures, survival, and more---leaving us all isolated and distanced, question marks punctuating our lives. We are learning the disciplines to stay, wait, continue, and encourage, all learning modes to endurance.

But, God, yes, the power words of Scripture, has given us an anchor. Our hope is sure and certain, an exclamation point in a world of uncertainty, because he is faithful. Once again, the author of Hebrews counseled his readers---

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is

faithful.

Hebrews 10: 23, ESV

It is the blessing of hope. Let us cling to it.

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The discipline to encourage.

Do challenging times bring out the best or worst in people? Good question. And, like most questions it depends on who you ask. There's usually some agreement in a merger of thought that hard times usually reveal a person's true colors. That's because our impression of or on others is so often blanched when heated by the fires of genuine hardship. Endurance may be one of those revealing hot flashes, when extended fear or pain, or uncertainty ignite good intentions and reduce mild-mannered nods into hot grimaces of disdain. I mean, we all have our limits. Hard times usually stretch them and may expunge them even in the strongest of us. Unless...

So, yes, let's learn the disciplines to stay, wait, and continue, all slightly egocentric in their influence. Their after-effects usually touch the people around us and may give them some moral boost for staying on-point during crisis. For the most part, however, they are disciplines to keep me on point, to develop endurance in numero uno. The question now may be, where is an altruistic touch, a selfless discipline with others in the first concentric circle beyond me. In my heart, mind, and experience it is in the discipline to encourage. That is, to find ways in this isolation and quarantine period to encourage the people around me. By every means, when I learn to stay, wait, and continue there's an influence element, a witness if you will, to the people in my life. But, the discipline to encourage, while we are lifted by it, is basically meant for others. IN BOLD PRINT.

Encouragement is an often repeated spiritual discipline in Scripture. First century Christians were expected to support one another with kind and gracious words. They were living in a period known as the PAX Romana, the peace of Rome, when Roman rule had already been achieved. Yet, the local communities and villages across the empire were subjected to cruelty, religious persecution, and the whims of military leaders. The Apostle Paul, who planted and served churches in each region, always advised them to encourage each other as a means of enduring their harsh experiences---

For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you—

that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith, both yours and

mine.

Romans 1: 11-12, ESV

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with

one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.

Romans 15: 5, ESV

Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 4: 18, ESV

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5: 11, ESV

The anonymous author of the Epistle to the Hebrews offered counsel about the discipline to encourage---

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting

to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the

more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10: 14-15

The Apostle Paul also sent several of his most trusted colleagues to encourage believers in that world---

I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that

he may encourage your hearts.

Ephesians 6: 22, ESV Colossians 4: 8, ESV

Beyond encouragement within the community of faith, Paul wrote about using words of grace with everyone---

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.

Ephesians 4: 29, ESV

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you

ought to answer each person.

Colossians 4: 6, ESV

We can learn endurance when we practice the disciplines to stay, wait, and continue. We can multiply endurance by learning the discipline of encouragement. So, get on that telephone, send that email or text message, post some encouraging words and thoughts on FaceBook or Twitter. You may encourage someone you love to endure these uncertain times.

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your

God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31: 6, ESV

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The discipline to continue.

Challenging circumstances usually interrupt the routines of life. Suddenly our norms are shifted. Events, often beyond our control, disrupt our neatly devised schedules and plans. Covid-19 is one of them. In the blink of an eye we're isolated, quarantined, and bound. Up front it may be relief from grueling work assignments or repetitive life patterns. A quiet day at home with our loved-ones may be the prescription needed for manic lifestyles. Then again, that quiet day at home can become a new activity pattern. I mean, how many times can we watch repeats of Live PD, or wash our hands, or munch the snack food that is so delicious and handy? Yes, of course life goes on. But, not in our accustomed ways. Enduring sameness, perhaps boredom, the constancy of teaching and entertaining children, preparing meals, and all of the other household chores present us with new hurdles and obstacles. In the process we may discard some of the more significant life essentials. The discipline of continuing is another sure entry-way to to the hallways of endurance.

Most life-changing endeavors require continuation to be effective. The diet I observed last Tuesday, that one and only day, won't get it done if weight and better health is my eventual goal. Neither is the gym membership I used for an hour January 2. Certain life maintenance routines are continuous in nature, like taking a shower or bath, washing behind our ears, brushing our teeth, or clipping our nails. Even in exigent circumstances there are certain things that should be continued. Almost every Google site I visited about endurance mentioned the discipline to continue as a norm for keeping some meaning in long periods of unusual interruption or difficulty.

The discipline to continue is also an often repeated biblical thought. Throughout Scripture we are reminded of God's continued steadfast love and faithfulness. In the New Testament the Apostle Paul, writing to churches under severe Roman persecution, often instructed them to continue in their spiritual lives---

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now

reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless

and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and

steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been

proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Colossians 1: 21-23, ESV

Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 4: 2 , ESV

Paul was emphasizing his own personal approach to the difficulties of planting churches and serving them in the harsh, often cruel first century environment---

And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those

who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as

we do.

2 Corinthians 11: 12, ESV

Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress

and joy in the faith.

Philippians 1: 25, ESV

To his younger colleague Timothy he wrote---

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing

from whom you learned it.

2 Timothy 3: 14, ESV

Paul was writing to encourage their endurance in hard times. He knew that the discipline to continue was a significant element in discovering that endurance.

We must not allow the uncertainties of this Covid-19 to interrupt our lives to the point that we lose the hope and encouragement that sustains us. So, continue in your Bible study and prayer, your dependence on God's guidance and leadership, and your connection to others, even if virtual, so that the discipline to continue will generate endurance for the days ahead.

There they are. The disciplines that help us endure---stay, wait, and continue. More tomorrow.

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