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When I first took a look at Mere Hope, I’ll admit, I thought its content would be totally different than what’s inside. What would lead me to think that? Well, it’s a small book (like a gift book or devotional) with a lighthearted illustration amidst a pale blue backdrop. So, I though this would be a light, on-sitting read with encouragement to infuse the soul with hope. Is that what this book is?
Well, no.
But I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss this book just because its content doesn’t match its cover.
What is this book about exactly?
Mere Hope’s whole premise is to give reasons why Christians should have hope. That may sound pretty simple, but Mere Hope is heavy with theological terminology and is a fairly dense read for its 150ish page length.
Mere Hope’s Inspiration comes from the legendary C.S. Lewis
The idea of Mere Hope is inspired by C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity (which I oh so fondly mention here). Mere Christianity’s central theme is to give an agreed upon consensus of what Christians believe that stretches beyond denominational barriers. Mere Hope gives us a consensus of what believers can agree gives our faith reason to hope, even in an age of cynicism.
Mere Hope gives us straightforward reasons to believe in hope with short doctrine lessons thrown into the mix:
The reasons for us believers to hold on to hope is broken down into four sections in Mere Hope:
Look In- Mere’s Hope’s Fountain (Christ lives within us.)
Look Out- Mere Hope’s Flourishing (Seeking to share the hope of Christ with others.)
Look Up- Mere Hope’s Focus (Our future glory awaits us.)
“Jesus took on flesh and came to us as our brother.”
One of my favorite reasons to have hope that Mere Hope mentions is found in the “Look Down” chapter about Jesus becoming man. (I touch on this topic quit a bit including here.)
I’ll leave you with one of my favorite lines from the book on this topic:
“[Jesus] became our brother and wants us to identify with him as such- to look up to him and to follow his example, knowing he has endured and can identify with every trial we face. This wonderful aspect of the incarnation provides the basis for our having actual fellowship with the God of the universe. He took on flesh and came to us as our brother.”
I generously received this Bible for free from B&H in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and pictures are our own.
