HOPE...what is it?
Webster dictionary defines it as, "A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable”. Hope differs from a wish and a desire in that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. Hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy. Whereas a wish and a desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety."
Ø If you will read the book of Psalms you will see that David understood what real HOPE is.
(Psalm 38:15a) "For in thee, O LORD, do I hope..."
(Psalm 71:5) "For thou art my HOPE, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth."
He trusted in God completely. Now did David fail God? Of course he did! But so do we. David just made sure he repented and got right with God when he did fail Him. That HOPE he had in God he did not want to lose sight of it because of sin, or not walking with God. David knew how precious this HOPE was, and the joy it gave to him.
Just like David in the Bible, we live in a world without HOPE. True HOPE is in the Lord! The apostle Paul told Timothy this also in, (1 Tim 1:1) "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our HOPE;"
What is your HOPE in today? Many have it in a religion, a sacrament, the government, their job. If the truth be known, many have "wishes or desires" in these things, and that is why many people live in so much anxiety, and pain. Whereas HOPE(trust) in Jesus Christ gives a peace & joy. (Isaiah 26:3) “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
(Rom 8:24-25) "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."
That also describes a little bit about faith. We are coming up on the holidays, and it seems like so many people today look at them as a hopeless time. Too many wishes and desires that are not met, or not satisfying to the soul. Make Jesus your HOPE. He tells us He will meet our needs, and in the process give us peace and joy. And isn’t peace and joy what the Holidays are all about.
Does your life feel hopeless? Does it feel empty? Christian, does our life of being a child of God display hope to others? When our life turns a little chaotic do we display a calm and peace to others because of our hope in Christ? Maybe we need some alone time with the Lord to strengthen that hope in us, so we can be a beacon of hope the people God has placed in our lives.
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