Hope.

3 AM

-Matchbox Twenty

So, this past weekend I went to San Francisco with my church youth group. There was about 43 of us. We went and shared the Gospel at various locations in the city, lead worship at a church, and lead worship and talk to the homeless at the Page Street Mission. It was a really great experience. We also got the chance to go to Alcatraz and Ghiradeli. I think my favorite part was going to the church and leading worship. God was definitely in the room. We weren't very prepared, and some of us were sick, but it was amazing. Everyone was singing and dancing and worshiping right along with us. They were really glad to have us there and we were really glad to be there. During our trip, we also did daily quiet times (or solo times as some call them). During one of our quiet times we were reading a verse in Romans. Romans 5 to be more specific. After I read the passage, I went on to read the commentary that sits below in my MacArthur Study Bible. The passage said, "And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope, does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us." [[Romans 5:3-5]] Part of this passage talks about hope. The verses above this passage talks about the hope of the glory of God. In the commentary it says that the New Testament word hope has a totally different meaning than it does now. In the New Testament, the word hope has zero uncertainty. The hope we use now totally does. Think about it. We say I hope I get this for Christmas...meaning we probably wont. It just made me think. If someone hears me talking about the hope I have in God and later  hears me saying the word with uncertainty, will they think I have uncertainty about God? Hmm. Maybe I will edit the way I speak. I want to try to keep the integrity of my speech intact.