Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

— Hebrews 10:23

Hope is not wishful thinking, as we tend to imply when we say things like “I hope it doesn’t rain today,” or “I hope you get a perfect score!” Hope in Christ is founded firmly on the promises of the faithful God who has shown his love for us and calls us to trust that we will live with him forever. The church of Jesus Christ in the first century A.D. was facing difficult times, and John knew that the hope of Jesus’ followers would be shaken. The writer of Hebrews also indicated that the hope of believers in Christ would be challenged. But in Jesus we have the One on whom our hope can be fixed for all eternity. “Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus . . . let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23). Jesus, who “freed us from our sins by his blood,” calls us to be confident and to hold on with each other in the community of faith as the day of the Lord approaches—when he will come again. Why do we have such confidence? Because through Jesus’ blood, poured out as payment for our sins, we are forgiven by God, and nothing will ever be able to separate us from his love (Romans 8:39).

Thank you, Jesus, for opening the way to God the Father for us, providing the peace, strength, and confidence we need for each day. Amen.