Did you know we can learn something about Christian hope from fishermen?

Writer Paul Quinnett once wrote that fishing is hope experienced. “When asked, ‘How can you fish all day without a hit?’ the true fisherman replies, ‘Hold it! I think I felt something.’ If the line goes slack, he says, ‘He’ll be back!’ Without hope, there is no yearning, no desire for a better tomorrow and no belief that the next cast will bring the big strike.”

The Bible teaches that the Christian life is also hope experienced. A hopeless Christian is a contradiction in terms. That’s why my desire for you in 2012 and beyond is to experience hope and be ready to share that hope with others.

Hope is incredibly elusive these days for those who do not know Jesus as Savior. The economy and unemployment, the divisive issues within families that result from these difficulties and a general pessimism about the future seems rampant. Yet Scripture gives us direction on how to address this lack of hope:

“But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15 NIV)

Christ is the origin of all hope, and we have within us the message of His hope to give to others. We can tell them, as the old hymn lyric declares: “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

You can live intentionally with hope found in Christ. Then throw your net into the waters of the world around you in hope of reeling in those who need Him.

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What Bible verses encourage you?