One bombing suspect killed and another sought in massive manhunt. The news points toward justice and the weekend offers each of us quiet to revive our hope in God’s ultimate justice. Yesterday was the anniversary of a revival of hope. On April 18, 1942, Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle led the first bombing raid on Tokyo in World War II. 16 B-25 bombers, normally land-based planes, took off from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Hornet. Coming 5 months after Pearl Harbor, Doolittle's raid encouraged America to sacrifice toward victory.
Seize the opportunity this weekend to revive hope in your life. Base your hope on the conviction that the Christ who conquered death can certainly bring us through to heavenly victory. Apply hope to the special problems in your own life. Pray it for others and for our troubled world. Practice hope, not by telling God so much what He should do but confident in this, "For those who love God all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28). Hope is a lively thing, says 1 Peter 1:3, when it's focused on the right object, on God who raised Jesus "from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God" (1:21). Out of such hope in the God of resurrection we make our own raids on the enemy of despair. The flowers on Easter lilies have faded, but your hope? Let it spring again!
“This (Jesus’ resurrection) is a sight that gladdens—What peace it doth impart!
Now nothing ever saddens the joy within my heart.
No gloom shall ever shake; No foe shall ever take
The hope which God’s own Son in love for me has won.
(Paul Gerhardt, tr. Johann Crueger)
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