Nick Hall: How to Make Hope Contagious Right Now

As the 24/7 news cycle reminds us, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) is extremely contagious, which is why it is so important to practice handwashing and social distancing and limit our trips to the store as much as possible.

The word “contagious” tends to have a negative connotation for many of us. So, as I’ve spent time at home, I’ve asked myself a question: Can “contagious” ever be a good thing? And if so, what’s worth spreading?

All around the world, people are struggling to make sense of the chaos that is COVID-19, myself included. We all need hope.

And, if we are followers of Jesus, our main job here on earth is to spread hope.

The apostle Paul expounds on this idea in 2 Corinthians 5:17-21. He writes:

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

So how can we focus on spreading hope during this time?

1. We must remember our identity.

If we are in Jesus, we are new creations! We are no longer the same people we once were, because Jesus has made us right with God and has given us new life. We are considered to be the “righteousness of God.” If you are feeling unworthy or unfit for the task of spreading hope, speak that truth over yourself today. By His triumph over death and sin, Jesus has made you both worthy and fit for your mission!

2. We must remember our mission.

Now that we live for Him, we are to be His ambassadors. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, one definition of an “ambassador” is: “a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his or her own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment.” God has appointed us as his official representatives to share the hope of Jesus with the world.

Although we are largely prevented from going out to share the gospel right now, we have the ability to spread hope via technology. We can call, write an email, send a text, upload a video or post on a social media platform. I encourage you to share what God is teaching you with others.

Put yourself out there. Vulnerability breeds vulnerability, so be real with your friends, family members and neighbors. Invite them to be real with you. The more I talk about my struggles and pain, the more God meets me there—and other people come along too.

Hope is contagious, and it’s worth spreading. {eoa}