What are your thoughts as you look at the world?  If you focus solely on the headlines it may seem rather depressing.  Many people long for hope and they look for it in government, education, technology, and many different places but there is no lasting change.  What will bring hope to a lost and dying world? Last night I was facilitating a discussion based upon Bill Hybel’s address entitled “The Hope of the World” that he delivered in the final session of last year’s Leadership Summit.  He challenged the audience as he said,

I hope you understand that one of the greatest privileges of life is when Jesus taps you on the shoulder and says, “I have a critical role for you to play and one of the reasons I redeemed you was for you to step into this critical role. I need you.  Will you join me as we build my church?”

If you’ve ever felt that prompting, for God’s sake, how do you say “no”?

What is the hope of the world?  It is when Jesus Christ manifests Himself through a body of believers we call the church.  Jesus has given this tremendous promise for the church,

I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it.  (Matthew 16:18)

At last year’s Leadership Summit, I received a card with the following prayer, I keep it above my desk to pray through in the morning – may it be an encouragement to your heart:

God, this is a new day.  I freshly commit myself to the role you have invited me to play, as you are building your church in this world.  I am awestruck again today that you include me in this grand life-giving, world-transforming, endeavor.  So today I joyfully offer you:

I commit all of myself to the role you have assigned me in the building of your church so that it may thrive in this world.  And I will “bring it” today.  I will bring my best.  You deserve it.  Your church deserves it.  It is the Hope of the World.

Dr. Rick Higgins

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University