Our identity of hope: we are chosen by God, children of God, and the church for God. This passage teaches us that God means to dwell with His people and the Church is the spiritual house He is building. We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession.

We are not only chosen by God as elect exiles. In Christ, we are children of God!

As children of God, we are called to holiness in the way we think.

As children of God, we are called to holiness in the way we live.

As children of God, we are called to holiness in the way we relate. 

Having been born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have a new identity of hope. We are no longer citizens of this world, but citizens of Christ's Kingdom - elect exiles. 

Jesus meets us in our struggle with exactly what we need.

Struggle: Fear (disciples huddled in a room afraid)

Response: Peace (the risen Christ comes and proclaims peace)

Struggle: Doubt (Thomas: "unless I see... I will never believe")

Response: Assurance (Jesus: "Put your finger here... do not disbelieve, but believe")

Struggle: Off Mission (disciples returning to their old way of life)

Response: Commission (provision of what they need and restoration of Peter the denier)

The journey we see Mary Magdalene experiencing through the crucifixion, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus is parallel to the journey we take when the truth of the resurrection changes everything for us  - Expectation, Devastation, Revelation, Proclamation.

Even in a world full of vanity, we can live a life of ultimate meaning and eternal significance - through relationship with God.

Life gets harder. But for those who remember God, it also gets sweeter. 

Wherever we are in life, it is almost certain that hard days are ahead. The Preacher of Ecclesiastes calls us to remember our Creator now so that we may have hope and meaning and even sweetness then.

We were created and redeemed for a great adventure, called to express our faith through taking risks with discernment.

How do we keep going in an unpredictable, volatile, vain world where even wisdom can't give us all the answers we want? Trust and obey. 

The failure of human wisdom to figure it all out is actually a very good thing and a blessing, because it calls us into a trust relationship with God. 

Trust God for His provision. Obey God for your good. Trust God for your eternity. 

To navigate and enjoy life under the sun, we need wisdom. 

Wisdom in our perspective, character, lifestyle, work, and speech.