The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. (Is 9:2)
Matthew quotes this verse to describe the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. (Mt 4:16) Light is a powerful metaphor in Scripture. We were all born into darkness – the darkness of ignorance, the darkness of error – with the shadow of death hanging over us. Jesus is the light of the world. (Jn 8:12) He is the light of truth, the light of life and the light of hope. We associate darkness with fear – the fear of death, the fear of unseen enemies or the fear of the unknown. But Jesus comes and casts out all fear. In him are knowledge and wisdom and power. Now the way forward is lit and the end is known. I will live in the light of his truth and the blessing of his love forever and ever. Amen!
Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hope. Show all posts
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Never Forsaken
Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (Ps 42:5)
The psalmist speaks of a time of trouble in his life, when tears are many and God seems far (v3). In the midst of his despondency, the psalmist reminds himself of the hope we have in God. Indeed, his longing for God has never seemed stronger (v1-2). The very distance he feels from God strengthens that longing.
But there is hope! Even as he wonders why God seems to have forgotten him (v9), his faith is strong. Times of refreshing will come again. What the psalmist recognizes is that his feelings of rejection and abandonment do not reflect the way things really are. God is present. God will save. Despair will give way to joy, and praise will once again flow freely from his heart.
It is natural for us to feel down when times are hard. But we must never forget that faith is not based on feelings, but on what we know of the character and constancy of God. He never leaves us. He never changes. I will put my hope in God.
The psalmist speaks of a time of trouble in his life, when tears are many and God seems far (v3). In the midst of his despondency, the psalmist reminds himself of the hope we have in God. Indeed, his longing for God has never seemed stronger (v1-2). The very distance he feels from God strengthens that longing.
But there is hope! Even as he wonders why God seems to have forgotten him (v9), his faith is strong. Times of refreshing will come again. What the psalmist recognizes is that his feelings of rejection and abandonment do not reflect the way things really are. God is present. God will save. Despair will give way to joy, and praise will once again flow freely from his heart.
It is natural for us to feel down when times are hard. But we must never forget that faith is not based on feelings, but on what we know of the character and constancy of God. He never leaves us. He never changes. I will put my hope in God.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Heavenly Hope
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Rom 15:13)
No matter grim our prospects here on earth might seem, we have an eternal hope that far outweighs the suffering of this life. The reason the persecuted church thrives, in fact, may be that those who clearly see they have no hope in this life are set free from it to rejoice in the hope of the life to come. As we trust him for eternity we have joy and peace in the here and now. That hope which we enjoy is from the Holy Spirit, with whom we were sealed as a sign of the certain hope to come. If we also find in this life reasons for hope and rejoicing, we are doubly blessed. And God does pour out blessings here and now, even in the midst of trial. Thank you, Lord!
No matter grim our prospects here on earth might seem, we have an eternal hope that far outweighs the suffering of this life. The reason the persecuted church thrives, in fact, may be that those who clearly see they have no hope in this life are set free from it to rejoice in the hope of the life to come. As we trust him for eternity we have joy and peace in the here and now. That hope which we enjoy is from the Holy Spirit, with whom we were sealed as a sign of the certain hope to come. If we also find in this life reasons for hope and rejoicing, we are doubly blessed. And God does pour out blessings here and now, even in the midst of trial. Thank you, Lord!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Don't Give Up
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Lk 18:1)
These words stirred my heart: “they should always pray and not give up.” My thoughts leapt immediately to my unsaved loved ones. Here is a verse that says it is ok to pray and pray and pray over and over again. If the unjust judge of the parable will answer the widow because of her persistence, how much more will God hear the persistent prayers of his children? The key here is faith. It takes faith to always pray and not give up: Faith in God and hope for the future. I will continue to pray!
These words stirred my heart: “they should always pray and not give up.” My thoughts leapt immediately to my unsaved loved ones. Here is a verse that says it is ok to pray and pray and pray over and over again. If the unjust judge of the parable will answer the widow because of her persistence, how much more will God hear the persistent prayers of his children? The key here is faith. It takes faith to always pray and not give up: Faith in God and hope for the future. I will continue to pray!
Friday, May 28, 2010
The Light of Dawn
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. (Ps 112:4)
In the hard times the light still dawns. I think sometimes we might not even see it though it is already there. The light of God’s favor is on us, but to our eyes it is still dark. We must remain faithful and continue to walk in righteousness, even when the world seems dark.
In the hard times the light still dawns. I think sometimes we might not even see it though it is already there. The light of God’s favor is on us, but to our eyes it is still dark. We must remain faithful and continue to walk in righteousness, even when the world seems dark.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Hope for the Lost
As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. (Acts 9:3)
What opening did Saul give God? Perhaps the very tiniest. But this story as presented is the clearest example of God sovereignly intervening to save those he has chosen. I myself was saved in a miraculous way. God is well able to save any that he pleases. No one is beyond hope. We can pray for their salvation, confident that God has the power to act. Lord, have mercy on the lost! Save them, if necessary by a direct miracle. Reveal yourself to them in a compelling way, so they will know that you are God. Soften their hearts and quicken their conscience so they would receive you as Savior.
What opening did Saul give God? Perhaps the very tiniest. But this story as presented is the clearest example of God sovereignly intervening to save those he has chosen. I myself was saved in a miraculous way. God is well able to save any that he pleases. No one is beyond hope. We can pray for their salvation, confident that God has the power to act. Lord, have mercy on the lost! Save them, if necessary by a direct miracle. Reveal yourself to them in a compelling way, so they will know that you are God. Soften their hearts and quicken their conscience so they would receive you as Savior.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Nothing Is Hard for God
Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “Because you have so little faith.” (Mt 17:19-20a)
It’s not that this demon was any harder to throw out than the others. But its more spectacular manifestations made them doubt that they could. Nothing is hard for God. It’s all the same to him. But when a problem looks big to us we tend to doubt more. I do this a lot. I’m always looking with natural eyes and thinking that something I’m praying for is hard or unlikely to happen. And so I don’t really expect anything to happen. Lord, help me to believe in miracles. Remind me that you are a mighty God. Let my faith be measured by the size of my God and not the size of my problems. Lord, I know that you can redeem any situation. Help me to see that picture in my mind’s eye when I pray and not a defeatist picture of nothing ever changing.
It’s not that this demon was any harder to throw out than the others. But its more spectacular manifestations made them doubt that they could. Nothing is hard for God. It’s all the same to him. But when a problem looks big to us we tend to doubt more. I do this a lot. I’m always looking with natural eyes and thinking that something I’m praying for is hard or unlikely to happen. And so I don’t really expect anything to happen. Lord, help me to believe in miracles. Remind me that you are a mighty God. Let my faith be measured by the size of my God and not the size of my problems. Lord, I know that you can redeem any situation. Help me to see that picture in my mind’s eye when I pray and not a defeatist picture of nothing ever changing.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Cry out to God
I call out… and cry for help; I have put my hope in your word. (Ps 119:145-147)
David knew that he desperately needed you – not just for salvation but simply to make it through the day. Lord, help me to see how desperately I need you each day, then help me to cling to you. May I put all my hope in your Word. Give me the strength and resolve to obey, even when the temptation to take the easy road is strong.
David knew that he desperately needed you – not just for salvation but simply to make it through the day. Lord, help me to see how desperately I need you each day, then help me to cling to you. May I put all my hope in your Word. Give me the strength and resolve to obey, even when the temptation to take the easy road is strong.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
