Living Hope
Hope has to be one of the most underrated virtues of all time. When a person thinks of another person who seems to be hopeful despite disappointment after disappointment, they tend to view them as naïve and ridiculous at times because they continue in their expectation of good. Yet, hope is the only things which keeps us going each day, hope in something or someone. Hope is the expectation of future good. We all need it and no matter how down we may be, we all have it in some area of life.
Two types of hope are impossible hope and hope as a natural expectation. During the terrible storm that would ultimately shipwreck Paul and his shipmates, it is not said of them that their first reaction was that the matter was hopeless. No, their first reaction was a natural expectation of hope. Reference Acts 27:20. Abraham in Romans 4:18 was expressing what I called impossible hope. Though he believed the idea of him becoming the father of many nations seemed farfetched, he chose to believe God’s promise and continued to hope for the impossible, in faith.
Hope is described as living and being a great virtue. Hope according 1 Peter 1:3 is a living hope. The lively hope that is mentioned in this verse signifies a hope, which carries through a lifetime. Something active, alive, and affecting a person’s life. Hope does that every day for each of us. Because Christ lives, hope is alive and active in the world. 1 Corinthians 13:13 sings the praises of hope as a great virtue. Something we are called to have, maintain and foster.
There are two foundations on which our hope should rest, God’s Word and God’s Promises. In Psalm 119:42-81 the Psalmist goes on and on about trusting in God’s Word. He vividly expressed the foundation and impact God’s Word provided for his life. That same foundation and impact can be afforded us through God’s Word. Romans 15:4 tells us that through learning the Word of God we will see hope come alive in our lives. God’s promises, found all throughout His Word, provide hope for us daily. His promises become stabilization for our lives. We are assured of that in Titus 1:2 where God’s ultimate promise is spoke of, the promise of eternal life.
We established that hope exist for all living people; without it we would not be able to continue in life. We also concluded that the only hope that transcends this life is the hope found in Jesus, the Christ, and the eternal life He offers. Now we will focus on what our objects of hope should be and what hope will produce in our lives. As always, please take the time to look up the Scripture text cited.
The objects of our hope have to be things that cannot fail us or disappoint. Yet, so often, we put our hopes in the wrong things and frequently feel the sting of disillusionments. The Psalmist knew that his hope had to be found in God [Psalm 39:7], as do we. David waited for God to reveal Himself, which was a demonstration of his hope. Our hope, just as Paul’s and his companion’s hope was, must be found in Christ, His life, His death, and His everlasting life [1 Corinthians 15:19]. Our salvation [Romans 5:1-5], the, possibly our, resurrection from the dead [Acts 23:6], and the eternal life [Titus 1:2] which will follow are three beautiful reasons for hope. Then the granddaddy of hope can be found in that glorious day when Christ returns [Romans 8:22-25 and 1 Corinthians 15:23-26] to earth for His children and to set up His Kingdom. In the interim time, what can hope produce in your life now, today?
We can find several attributes in people and ourselves, which cause hope and are also a result of hope. Salvation [Romans 8:23] and assurance [Hebrews 6:18, 19] are most likely the foundational blocks of hope. This in turn produces a stability of the spirit and soul of a person [Colossians 1:21-23]. We will find a type of purity among those who have put their hope in Christ. They desire to be pure as He is pure [1 John 3:3]. This is coupled with a joy that seems to a regular companion [Romans 12:12]. There is a sense of patience and courage that is present in those who live with the hope of what is to come in Christ [Romans 5:4, 5 and 8:25].
There is nothing like hope to make each day brighter and all the days ahead easier to face. May we each make room in our lives for hope to flourish.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
A Reminder of How It All Started
The Scrolls
Just after I left mortgage banking and went into fulltime ministry, I had occasion in San Francisco to go see the Dead Sea Scrolls. It was so moving for me. It made me realize that God inspired writing lives on forever and is a great treasure. That is when I knew writing would be a big part of the ministry God had granted me. It was an incredible experience. A once in a lifetime opportunity and experience.
Just after I left mortgage banking and went into fulltime ministry, I had occasion in San Francisco to go see the Dead Sea Scrolls. It was so moving for me. It made me realize that God inspired writing lives on forever and is a great treasure. That is when I knew writing would be a big part of the ministry God had granted me. It was an incredible experience. A once in a lifetime opportunity and experience.
Monday, February 16, 2009
To Believe or Not Believe
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
If God could whisper in your ear after reading the above Scripture this is what I envision He would say.
Do you really BELIEVE in Me? Do you know what it means to believe in Me? I was given so that anyone, yes anyone, who chooses would have everlasting – eternal life.
Life comes from the hand of the Father through the blood of the Son. My blood was poured out – out of love for every person ever created or that will ever be created. I long for that relationship with the living creation. I long for that relationship with each of you.
You however, must choose Me. For I have already chosen you, and anyone else that would come, when I walked that road with My cross and lay there while they crucified Me. I wanted to give the world the greatest gift of all time, reconciliation with God. To be able to have a relationship once again with the Almighty is the greatest gift anyone will ever receive. For many it will take their date with judgment for them to realize this truth. Do not be one of those people.
I am here, I want you; want Me. - I died for you and rose again. I want you to believe in My death and My resurrection. Won’t you believe? - I am here to forgive you. I want to forgive you; ask Me to. - I am here to enter your very being, living and having relationship with you. I want to enter; ask Me in. - I am here and want to give you the greatest gift of all time, everlasting life. I want to give it; let me give it to you. - I respect you. I will let you choose. Please choose Me.
To believe means to fully trust in only Me. I am waiting – what will you do?
John 3:16
If God could whisper in your ear after reading the above Scripture this is what I envision He would say.
Do you really BELIEVE in Me? Do you know what it means to believe in Me? I was given so that anyone, yes anyone, who chooses would have everlasting – eternal life.
Life comes from the hand of the Father through the blood of the Son. My blood was poured out – out of love for every person ever created or that will ever be created. I long for that relationship with the living creation. I long for that relationship with each of you.
You however, must choose Me. For I have already chosen you, and anyone else that would come, when I walked that road with My cross and lay there while they crucified Me. I wanted to give the world the greatest gift of all time, reconciliation with God. To be able to have a relationship once again with the Almighty is the greatest gift anyone will ever receive. For many it will take their date with judgment for them to realize this truth. Do not be one of those people.
I am here, I want you; want Me. - I died for you and rose again. I want you to believe in My death and My resurrection. Won’t you believe? - I am here to forgive you. I want to forgive you; ask Me to. - I am here to enter your very being, living and having relationship with you. I want to enter; ask Me in. - I am here and want to give you the greatest gift of all time, everlasting life. I want to give it; let me give it to you. - I respect you. I will let you choose. Please choose Me.
To believe means to fully trust in only Me. I am waiting – what will you do?
Monday, February 09, 2009
Marriage and Family Series - A Married Woman's Temptations
A Married Woman’s Temptations
Special temptations of a woman:
Disobedience ~ Genesis 3:1–19
1Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3“but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5“For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. 8And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
9Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” 12Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” 13And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14So the Lord God said to the serpent:
“Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”
16To the woman He said:
“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you.”
17Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:
“Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field.
19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.”
Thought Tidbit:
When the disobedience occurred in the garden, it first occurred on the woman part. She was the one the serpent was able or chose to deceive. Perhaps, he knew he could influence her with his smooth words. Nonetheless, disobedience has been an issue for women ever since. It is important to be careful in ones dealings to make sure that obedience to the laws of God is followed.
Unfaithfulness ~ John 4:17,18
17The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18“for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”
Thought Tidbit:
Clearly being mindful of faithfulness is necessary as a woman. That temptation to be loved can translate into the sin of unfaithfulness. This need not be the case however. It is important to seek God to sooth the pain that could come from not receiving the needed love. This is a far better choice than to sin and break the law of God and the trust of one’s husband.
Contentiousness ~ Proverbs 19:13
…And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.
Thought Tidbit:
Being contentious is the quickest road to no intimacy with the husband. This kills the intimacy faster than anything does. A husband wishes to view his wife in two ways 1 – as needing him 2 – as his “sweetie” there is not room for nagging shrews. The bickering and arguing produces little actually product in the end. Do not believe this? Review in your mind the last few times you acted this way and what it got you in the end.
Assertion of Authority ~ 1 Tim. 2:11–15
11Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
Thought Tidbit:
The key on this point is that it is about the “assertion” of authority, not having authority. Women can capably teach the word of God but they do not need to be teaching their husband’s, directly, as teacher and student. They can also hold positions and teach within the church structure but they do not need to be pressing their teaching or authority on men who do not chose or want to learn from them. Women are not to take authority but to be granted authority and they are to only influence men to the degree men desire. Pressing for anything more, is taking one’s liberties in Christ too far.
Disobedience ~ Genesis 3:1–19
1Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” 2And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; 3“but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5“For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. 7Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. 8And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
9Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?” 10So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” 11And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?” 12Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.” 13And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14So the Lord God said to the serpent:
“Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”
16To the woman He said:
“I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception;
In pain you shall bring forth children;
Your desire shall be for your husband,
And he shall rule over you.”
17Then to Adam He said, “Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, ‘You shall not eat of it’:
“Cursed is the ground for your sake;
In toil you shall eat of it
All the days of your life.
18 Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,
And you shall eat the herb of the field.
19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread
Till you return to the ground,
For out of it you were taken;
For dust you are,
And to dust you shall return.”
Thought Tidbit:
When the disobedience occurred in the garden, it first occurred on the woman part. She was the one the serpent was able or chose to deceive. Perhaps, he knew he could influence her with his smooth words. Nonetheless, disobedience has been an issue for women ever since. It is important to be careful in ones dealings to make sure that obedience to the laws of God is followed.
Unfaithfulness ~ John 4:17,18
17The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have well said, ‘I have no husband,’ 18“for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; in that you spoke truly.”
Thought Tidbit:
Clearly being mindful of faithfulness is necessary as a woman. That temptation to be loved can translate into the sin of unfaithfulness. This need not be the case however. It is important to seek God to sooth the pain that could come from not receiving the needed love. This is a far better choice than to sin and break the law of God and the trust of one’s husband.
Contentiousness ~ Proverbs 19:13
…And the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping.
Thought Tidbit:
Being contentious is the quickest road to no intimacy with the husband. This kills the intimacy faster than anything does. A husband wishes to view his wife in two ways 1 – as needing him 2 – as his “sweetie” there is not room for nagging shrews. The bickering and arguing produces little actually product in the end. Do not believe this? Review in your mind the last few times you acted this way and what it got you in the end.
Assertion of Authority ~ 1 Tim. 2:11–15
11Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.
Thought Tidbit:
The key on this point is that it is about the “assertion” of authority, not having authority. Women can capably teach the word of God but they do not need to be teaching their husband’s, directly, as teacher and student. They can also hold positions and teach within the church structure but they do not need to be pressing their teaching or authority on men who do not chose or want to learn from them. Women are not to take authority but to be granted authority and they are to only influence men to the degree men desire. Pressing for anything more, is taking one’s liberties in Christ too far.
Monday, February 02, 2009
No Posting - Asking for Prayer
I have just returned from a trip and was very ill last evening. Therefore, I will not be making a post for this week. In addition I would like to ask for your prayers that I make a speedy and full recovery from this illness. A new posting will be available by Tuesday next week - per the norm.
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