Set your hope

I've been reading 1 Peter this week in my daily devotional time. I was struck by this verse in Chapter 1 the other day:

'12) Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.'

I was struck by the phrase 'set your hope'. When I think of setting something somewhere, I think of placing something in a certain location and it not moving from that spot. One of the ways in which I 'tidy' is by placing things in certain piles around the house. Whether that's papers, books, hoodies, they tend to go into certain areas for which of course has a specific purpose - where I can distinctly remember where I've historically left those things. Kate, on the other hand, sees these things rather differently than I do. She see these piles as objects in which have a home and need to find their home. So, when she moves one of these piles to a foreign location, it always brings about a panic in myself, internally because when I go looking for what I placed I can no longer find it! I must say that there is of course, a method in my madness. 

But going a bit further, it's like, if I went to the shops, I would drive to Tesco or Lidl and park in the parking bays then get out of my car and go into the shops. Only to get back into my car once I've got what I needed. Now, one hopes that the car wouldn't move or at least, it shouldn't!! But, I know where I've left it. 

You see, what I'm getting at is that 'setting' or 'placing' your hope, is a proactive thing that is purposeful and intentional. It basically says, I am going to park all that I am, all that I want, all that I need, and all that I could ever hope for now and forevermore in Jesus Christ, His goodness, His faithfulness and never leave from that spot. Because, if we don't take purposeful and proactive steps in 'setting our hope on the grace which is to be brought to us through Christ', we become prone to panic, fear, anger stress, anxiety and the list goes on and on. The good news is that God so desires to bring freedom to us and true freedom can be found by proactively placing our hope in Jesus. 

My heart to you this afternoon is to encourage you to continue trusting and loving Jesus. He's worth it and relationship with him gets better and better. Because in Him, we can truly find rest and peace for our souls - no matter what comes!