John 15:13-16 – “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.  14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.  15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”  NKJV

There is an overriding reality that is inescapable as we study Scripture.  It leaps forth in the 66 Books of the Bible and is visible on page after page and passage after passage.  It is something almost impossible to explain and almost inexplicable.  That of which I speak is the Incomparable Love God has for mankind. 

We are His creation, but our history has been one of rejection and rebellion.  He would have easily been justified in smashing the race like bugs and virtually did that in saving only Noah and his family.  He has demonstrated His incredible patience and willingness to give us second, third, fourth, and fiftieth changes, and yet mankind continues to seek something other than Him.

The work of Christ on the Cross is a testimony of the depth of God’s love for mankind as is revealed in John 3:16. Jesus, in our text, testifies that He considers us His friends and in laying down His life He has demonstrated the “no greater love.”  Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3:9 that God “… is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”  Paul wrote in Romans 8:37-39 regarding God’s love for mankind and declared that NOTHING could separate us from God’s love.  In Ephesians 2:4-5 he reminds us of the depth of God’s love

God’s love is Unconditional whereas human love is conditional.  If others reject us, spurn our demonstrations of love, disrespect, disappoint and turn their backs on us love would not be the descriptor for our feelings toward them.  But with God, He loves us regardless.  Make no mistake His unconditional love will not vacate His holiness or judgment.  He has promised that if we ‘come to Him’ He will not reject us but if we reject Him and die in that condition, He cannot overlook our sin. 

Jesus wept over Jerusalem because of the continual rejection of the inhabitants, and I believe God weeps over our world today.  There have been at least three times in my life when, in a time of prayer and meditation, I heard God weeping.  It was one of the most disturbing experiences I have ever had and as I sensed His heartbreak I was broken.  The Omnipotent One could crush us like aluminum cans and with the stroke of His finger remove us from the planet and yet He chooses to LOVE US and demonstrates longsuffering beyond human ability to comprehend.

We can never merit that love but through grace, He extends it.  As I meditate on this today, I tremble realizing the times I have taken His mercy for granted.  How could anyone reject such incomparable love?  How?  I believe that to reject God’s love we must become so self-absorbed that our love for ourselves overpowers our reason. 

I believe that to reject God’s love we must believe the Lie of the devil and elevate ourselves to be equals with God in our minds.  Jesus said in John 8:32 – “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  If we SEE truly SEE the finished work of Christ on the Cross and the Love of God, we will respond and be made free!

I pray that if anyone is teetering on the fence undecided about God, His mercy, grace, and love you have your eyes opened and SEE!  I pray that each of us gains spiritual sight to a greater measure and SEE God’s, Great Love!

God bless you as you go through this day!

Colossians 1:25-29 – “Of this church, I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is,  the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”  NASB

In my years of Christian ministry, I have observed people becoming what I would call bored in their experience.  They go through the same ritual every Sunday.  Someone said, “You could leave most churches and be gone for months or even years and come back knowing exactly what they would do and what would be preached.”  I hope that is inaccurate.  I hope we have not become Always the Same!  I hope it is not the same song, hymn, prayer, testimony, and sermon.  I hope we are not people who are ever trying to recapture or recreate that Blessed Experience, trying to remember what it was like, how it felt, etc. 

The Hope we have in Christ is the consummation of the whole Kingdom of God.  It is not simply the Great Escape it is Life in the Fullest.  I believe in the Coming of Jesus for His church and believe that will be a Glorious Day when we finally enter into that Eternal Rest in Heaven.  But, what about now? 

I am not living to escape but to enforce the victory that Jesus won at Calvary and see the Harvest of God gathered into His barn.  When Jesus comes that will be the grand finale of what we are to be already enjoying in His Covenant.  We have a past and a future, so we dare not get caught up living in a vacuum in the middle of those two realities.  It is Christ in you, the Hope of Glory – Now!  It is now not in the sweet by and by.  We have God’s Promises for Now!  The Pardon we received, the fellowship, and interaction with the Holy Spirit is Now!

Remember the Prodigal Son?  When he finally came to his senses and began his trek home, he prepared his speech.  He was going to tell his father, “Father, I have sinned against you.  Make me as one of your hired servants.”  Do you realize that a ‘hired servant’ is not just a servant?  The servants live on the property all the time. The hired servant came in at harvest time and lined up in the market Hoping for a job.  He was the odd job laborer and hired by the day. 

The Prodigal was saying to his father, “Dad, forgive me. I’ll go live in the village, and at harvest time, do me a favor and give me a job.”  That is All He Expected!  But his father saw him a great way off and embraced him in Forgiveness.  The son got out his speech and began but everything suddenly changed.  Why?  The father would not let him finish. He reinstates him as a son.  He said, “This is my Son!  He was lost but now is found.  He was dead but is now alive.”  That opened a whole new life for the prodigal.

That’s the picture I hope you see.  When we came to Christ, pardon would have been sufficient.  But as we studied and learned the Word of God, we discovered that there was more!  We discovered that everything God has promised is ours.  But when we came to Him, we did not know that.  It is as we learn, grow, and develop that we find that God gives, and gives, and gives, and gives…

Believers, we need to move past the past and live in the present in God.  We need to learn to live in Hope and Expectation that His Promises are ours and we can expect them and enjoy them.  Don’t pitch your spiritual tent around Forgiveness as vital and wonderful as that is.  Don’t settle for what God has done but focus your eyes on Him and look forward to what He is and will do.  Live in Hope!  Remember the words of Jesus in Luke 12:32, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”  God Wants to Bless You!

That is where we are to live in Hope!  It is Christ in us that is the Hope of Glory.  We, as believers, are people of Hope!  We are those who have a positive, unshakable, confidence that what God said He will do, He will do!  We live in a state of Excited Expectancy and are filled with Eager Desire.  We Are the People of Hope!  Not as the world gives but Hope that God gives!

God, bless you as you embark on today’s journey in Jesus!

Colossians 1:25-29 – “Of this church, I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is,  the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”  NASB

As we addressed yesterday, Hope is rooted in ‘eager desire’ for what God has said and promised.  It is filled with ‘persistent expectation’ that His promises are present realities in our lives.  It is anchored in confidence that no matter what happens or how things look the expectation will become reality. 

It is the heart saying, “I know it is going to happen!”  That is biblical Hope!  It means that we can get up every morning with the tingle of excitement in our hearts.  It is calm confidence that we will experience the Promises in fullness.  We look ahead to all our tomorrows and all our unlived futures and proclaim, “This is the day the Lord has made…”  It is a quiet confidence that in His timing and in His way, He is going to bring it to pass in my life.  That is Hope!

As I said yesterday, Hope is deeply connected to Faith and in a sense, it is faith.  Someone said, “Hope is faith shielding its eyes against the sunlight of adversity and saying, “I can see it!  I can see it!”  In life, we must operate in Hope and Faith.  The farmer operates in biblical hope.  They take that seed, that may look nothing like the finished product and plant it in the ground in hope and expectation.  They hope that seed will germinate and produce the plant that will produce the fruit desired. 

When you first came to Jesus, you discovered the promise of the Bible that your God-given destiny was to become conformed to the image of Christ.  You read it in the Bible, but you did may not see it in your life.  You have flaws, kinks, warts, blemishes, and more.  You refuse to let what you see determine your confidence in God and His Word, so you Hope!  It is “Christ IN us…” that produces the Hope of Glory.  You live in a state of eager anticipation for what God has said you are and what you hope to become.  You believe that one day, that Promise will be a reality in your life, so you Hope!

Remember in Genesis 3, God declared that one day the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent.  Through the generations from the time of Adam to the New Testament and Christ’s appearing on earth that seemed far-fetched because of the condition of man’s heart.  But Paul and the disciples Hoped. 

Remember God’s Promise and covenant with Abraham?  God said that from Abraham would become one who would bless all the families of the earth.  David, the prophets all looked forward to the coming of Christ and His Promised Work and Provision.  Generation after generation lived reading about the Promises and Hoping.  The Bible even says that they died in faith.  They did not see it become reality during their earthly sojourn, but they kept looking forward in Hope and Faith.  Their declaration was, “I know He is coming.  I am absolutely certain that He is coming!”  They died telling their children, “Don’t forget, He is Coming!”

The beauty is that Jesus is not a figure of history but a present reality living inside each of us!  He is our Hope of Glory.  We live in Hope!  We live in Hope that everything we have hoped for will be realized before we die, or Jesus comes.  Let the eye of your heart see it and Hope!  Jesus has come!  What they Hoped for is here!  Tragically, too many believers live without Hope and some live in despair.  Why?  Because too often we live in a vacuum.  What do I mean by that?

Many believers only see the reality that we have been Pardoned.  We readily believe that we have been Forgiven.  Some have even entered, into a vital relationship with the Holy Spirit.  They attempt to freeze that experience and proclaim, “I’ve Got It!”  The thought is, “I am saved, and spirit-filled, so I’ve got it.  I have arrived at all God has for me on earth.  Now I must just endure the struggle.”  Then, each year we move farther and farther away from IT because that experience is relegated to our history rather than being our present.

I heard a very humorous but applicable story that I will share.  There was a man who decided to write down what had happened to him, and he called it is “Blessed Experience.”  He kept it in a box hidden away in the attic.  Anytime he had a visitor he brought out that box and read his Blessed Experience to them.  He would say, “This is what happened to me.”  One day a visitor came, and he sent his daughter to retrieve his Blessed Experience so he could read it to the visitor.  Sadly, she came back and reported that the rats had eaten his Blessed Experience.”  It was not reality but history and that is boring producing not growth development or fruit. We need to have Hope in Christ who is In Us!

I want to venture into this just a bit further so I will pause here and pick up next time with more on HOPE.  God, bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

Colossians 1:25-29 – “I was made a minister of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, so that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God, 26 that is,  the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, 27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. 29 For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”  NASB

I have far more to say than I can deliver in the space available for a short devotional so bear with me as I try to hit the high points.  I hope you are inspired and encouraged to delve deeper into this gold mine of truth.  Hopefully, I will reach the destination of “The Hope of Glory” and how it affects believers today.  I will attempt to examine what Biblical Hope is, what Biblical Glory is, and pray it will enable us to come to a better understanding of “Christ in us, the Hope of Glory.”

The apostle Paul, in this passage, attempted to identify the essence of his ministry.  He said, “This is what I do!”  Paul traveled the known world teaching people and preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The aim, goal, and vision of his ministry were to help people everywhere come to completeness, perfection, and wholeness spiritually. 

His desire was that believers would become Spiritually Mature.  He called it “The Mystery” in the sense that the truth he was preaching, and teaching were not apparent to the unbeliever but were available to all believers if they could and would receive it.  That Mystery was, “Christ in you, the Hope of Glory.”

You should have asked, “What does that mean?”  When Paul says, “Christ in you, the Hope of Glory” what does he mean?  We recognize that he is declaring something of great importance as he says, “This is what I teach.  This is what is going to make you complete, mature, and whole spiritually.”  That gets my attention!

The word Hope has developed a bad reputation in today’s modern world.  In some circles, it is believed that if you Hope, you are lacking in faith.  However, I challenge that based on the Bible’s teaching about the word.  It is a word that is found multiple times in the New Testament.  Sadly, I am convinced that too many misuse the word and adopt the world’s use of the word which is not remotely similar to the Bible’s usage. 

So, what is HOPE?  I heard the definition expressed by a small boy when he said, “Hope is believing that you are going to get that, which anyone in their right mind knows you are not going to get.”  That is the idea in the world’s view and some of the church.  We can only Hope!

When the world talks about Hope, they mean, “It is highly improbable that you will ever get what you are hoping for.”  Therefore, in that sense, it means that you are bordering on the impossible and to the average person it means you are clinging to a thread when all rational expectancy has vanished.  I’ve been in hospital rooms and heard, “Well, all we can do now is hope.”  That kind of Hope has disappointment deeply rooted in it. 

Can you remember the dreams and visions of your teenage years?  How many of those are realities today?  Most people would acknowledge that those dreams have long ceased to exist.  Hope, as understood by the world and much of the Church is rooted in disappointment because people do not believe they are going to get what they are hoping for.  That is not the Hope of the Bible! 

The Hope of the Bible is founded and grounded upon Expectancy.  Biblical Hope means, “That positive unshakable confidence that a specific blessing from God will undoubtedly come to pass.”  In that sense, Biblical Hope is closely akin to Biblical Faith. 

Bible Hope has eyes for the future!  It believes and expects!  Biblical Hope has a strong element of Certainty built into it.  The Hope of the world is founded upon disappointment and the Hope of the Bible is founded upon Certainty and Expectancy.  WHY?  Because of the God Factor.  God promised what He has promised and no matter how impossible it may look, God said it and His Word Never returns to Him without accomplishing His purposes. 

Bible Hope is not Fantasy, but it is an excited forward look with expectancy.  Remember the words of Paul in Philippians 1:20, “According to my earnest expectation and hope…”  The Amplified renders this, “My own eager desire, persistent expectation, and hope.”  That is Powerful!  It is the eager desire.  It is the persistent expectation and certainty that says, “I Know that it is going to happen.”  I Hope in God!

I will pause here and offer a little more in the next devotional.  God, bless you richly is my prayer and desire as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

John 1:1-5 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him, nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”  NKJV

The Bible tells us that Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing comes by The Word of God.  To have spiritual hearing we must be willing to listen and obey the Word of God.  There is the Logos or the written word and the Rhema the spoken word and both are indispensable and neither relegates the other to a previous dimension or era.  When we go to Genesis the first book of the Bible, we find that God is a Speaking God.

It would be impossible to ignore that considering the number of times we read, “And God said.”  Not only that we find God coming to Walk and Talk with Adam in the Garden and throughout the Old and New Testaments we find the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit Speaking to people.  Some people get nervous when the term Rhema enters the conversation and argue, rightly, that any Rhema cannot and will not contradict the Logos Word of God.  The Bible is a clear evaluator of any Word we believe we have heard.

But if Faith comes by Hearing and Hearing comes by the Word and the Word is God (Jesus) then it becomes imperative that we learn to Hear His Voice both in the Logos and Rhema.  It is imperative that we become sensitive to the speaking voice of God.  I do not suggest that you will hear God audibly.  You may but likely you will hear God like most of us, in our spirit, mind, and heart.  It may be an impression.  It may be a clear word where you hear a detailed declaration.  It may be a conversation through the Holy Spirit.  I don’t know exactly how you Hear GOD, but I know that we can Hear GOD and must Hear GOD if we are to become the fullness of what He desires for our lives. 

The development of Faith both for salvation and for miracles requires a Relationship with The Word of God.  We would never contemplate developing a relationship with another human being without actual communication.  That may come through the written word via Social Media, Text, Email, or Letters. It may also, and likely will involve oral interaction.  We believe that God is alive and that if we call upon Him, He hears us and yet many do not believe we can Hear GOD personally or have a dialogue with Him. 

Some believe that God stopped speaking in the 1^st Century with the establishment of the New Testament Church.  Yet, the Bible encourages prayer and obedience to God’s Word.  The Bible speaks of the Holy Spirit coming as a guide and helper to lead us into all truth and teach us the words of Jesus.  It also speaks of building ourselves up in our most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.  If God quit speaking to humans that would be a needless directive and request.  If God is, as the Bible declares Him, the same Yesterday, Today, and Forever then how can we not expect Him to Speak to Us?  Oh, I know the argument that He does through the Bible and that is valid to a degree.

Let me ask it this way.  If you were sick or shut-in and desired me to visit you, I could visit you in two ways.  I could come and drop off my letter to you at the Nurses’ Desk and let you read it yourself? Maybe I brought you the books I had written and dropped them off for you to read my words.  Another way would be for me to come into your room and talk with you for a time. Which would be more beneficial and desirable? 

Before you argue that this is comparing apples and oranges, I ask, Is It?  Who is better equipped to explain the Logos of God than the Word of God Himself?  How many times have you realized that you have misinterpreted a particular passage and when the revelation of the truth came you rejoiced, and it empowered you?  If you could visit with the LORD Himself and Hear Him speak to you personally would that not likely strengthen your faith?  You would be Hearing the Word!  The Word is Truth and Truth is liberating. 

What I want to convey if I convey nothing else is that The Word is HE, not just words on a printed page preserved over the centuries.  The Word of God is a Person, and that Person is our Creator and Giver of Life.  He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life!  He is the Door of access to God!  He is our Hope and Coming King!  My daily prayer is, “LORD, create in me a clean heart, renew in me a right spirit, please do not take your Holy Spirit from me, and restore unto me the Joy of Your Salvation.  LORD, enable me to Hear You with clarity so that as I Hear You, I can respond to you in Faith and Obedience.” 

May the LORD bless you richly as you enjoy this wonderful day in Jesus!

Philippians 3:12-14 – “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  NKJV

Life is filled with choice. We make choices every day and even multiple times if not thousands of times every day.  Where we are today is a compilation of the choices we have made after this moment in time.  Who we are is the result of the myriad of choices we have made?  Yes, God wipes the slate clean and gives us a brand-new start at salvation but the formation of our character, condition, and position in life is directly related to our choices or if you will allow the direction to which we look.

Paul was addressing difficulties of life, suffering, trials, tests, and temptations in his and their ministry.  He was highlighting the need and desire to always reach for a life that is pleasing to and representative of God and His Grace.  He was focused on Spiritual Perfection or Spiritual Maturity to the point and degree that he and they could walk victoriously in all things and at all times without imperfection.  You may say, “Roy, that is an impossible dream” and I would not argue with you that on this earth we will likely never reach that point.  But Paul makes a poignant point and calls to mind something that I’m not sure we do not miss or overlook.

He acknowledged that He had not attained spiritual perfection or completeness.  His heart was crying out to lay hold or apprehend Jesus just as Jesus has laid hold of or apprehended him.  The word used means to seize, eagerly possess, and suggests a unification and becoming one with. 

The Psalmist described that heart condition in Psalm 84:2, “My soul longs, yes even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the Living God.”  In Psalm 63:1, he cried, “O God, You are my God; I shall seek you earnestly; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh yearns for You, in a dry and a weary land where there is no water.”  Paul was describing a longing and thirst that can only be quenched by the Water of Life that Jesus gives, that water our Lord said would spring up within us and be like a River of Living Waters flowing out from us.

He knew his position and condition and then reminded them that although he had not attained, he knew what he must do.  He spoke of Two Looks in Life that determine our destination.  He says, “one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal of the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  Paul’s One Thing has three parts – I do not dwell on the Backward Look.  I focus on the Forward and Upward Look.  I determinedly, doggedly, and devotedly Press Toward that which is ahead. 

He considered that a mark of maturity that we forget the past and focus on the future in God.  He considered it a necessary quality of a believer that we turn our hearts and minds upon the things of God and as he told them earlier, “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ.”  That mind was void of selfishness and self-centeredness. He demonstrated a servant’s heart and a mind to serve. 

If we look at what was and dream about what might have been we will lose sight of what is, what can be, and what will be if we Press Toward the Mark and Keep Pressing Toward the Mark!  You have a choice in life to follow the BACKWARD LOOK or the FORWARD and UPWARD LOOK.  Which look do you choose?

God, bless you as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him.

Colossians 3:1-4 – “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”  NKJV

In this Christian walk, too often people are waiting for God to do it without considering our part of the equation.  Paul told the Philippians to “…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and do His good pleasure.”  Here in Colossians, the apostle uses the infinitely powerful two-letter word “IF” as a qualifier for his life instruction. 

He says, “IF then you were raised with Christ…”  IF here is an identifier more than a question and although used rightly it could easily be SINCE.  His instruction is for those who have received Jesus as their savior, died to sin, and experienced the New Birth and been transformed as New Creations, those who have arisen from spiritual death to spiritual life.

As Christians, the focal point of our life is to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” as Jesus instructed.  Paul says, “seek those things which are above…”  Those things are current realities where Christ is, as He sits at the right hand of the Father.  He reminds them of the Promise of our Lord to return for us and that “when Christ who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”  That is the ultimate objective, prize, and goal – Eternity With Him!

Yet, the apostle does not stop there with a forward look and longing but gives some definite instructions as to Our Part in the equation.  The things that God will not do for us but will help us achieve.  The things subsequent to salvation and our reception of His Saving Grace.  He gives instruction and a basis for it. 

• You SET YOUR MIND on things above, not things of this earth. 

Become heavenly-minded.  Yes, we have all heard people say, “Don’t become so heavenly-minded you are no earthly good.”  However, I would argue that if you truly focus on the things of heaven or the things of God rather than becoming no earthly good you will be of the optimum good.  Why? Because of the transformation in your heart, mind, life, and actions.  Why are we to do this?  Because we are Dead, and our lives are hidden with Christ in God. 

We have been Redeemed and Transformed.  We are now strangers and pilgrims on this earth and just passing through.  Our citizenship has been transferred to His Kingdom and because of that, we need to think the thoughts of Heaven and hear the words of Heaven so we can function more perfectly on earth.

• You PUT TO DEATH YOUR MEMBERS which are on earth.

What members?  Read what he says next, and you will have no question as to what he is referring.  Fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness which is idolatry.  Why?  These things corrupt and defile and divert our attention from Heaven’s Purpose to gratification of the flesh and its desires.  To avoid the wrath of God and come out from among them and be separate.  We to be made the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and present a witness that is other than that of the world.

• You PUT OFF all these.

All What?  Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.  Stop telling lies to one another.  Why or How can you do this?  Because you have been redeemed and by the Grace and Mercy of God have put off the old man.  You are a New Creation, the old is dead and you have been resurrected to newness of life spiritually.  You are not the same as the old you.  You have a renewed mind and in that, your knowledge is transformed and renewed making you Like Him!  You are no longer sectarian but view all mankind as one and make no distinction based on race, color, or creed.

• You PUT ON these.

Put on what?  Tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with or being patient with one another, and forgiving one another.  That is a tall order and rather than waiting on God to do it for you remember He Has Done It in you and therefore it is up to you to walk out what He has done on the inside. 

How is that possible?  By Remembering!  But Remember what?  Remember that you are forgiven!  How can you make this a reality in your life?  Put on Love, which is the bond of perfection.  Let the Peace of God rule your heart.  Always be led by peace. We are one body, saved by the same grace and created by the same God.  Let the Word of God Dwell in You.  Not just dwell in you but dwell in you richly.  That means you give and are given wisdom, teaching, admonition and one of the most powerful ways for that to occur is through Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord. 

Whatever you do and that means Everything whether in word or deed do it in the Name or as a representative of Jesus and do it with a thankful and grateful heart!

God, bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

1 Corinthians 13:13 – “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”  NKJV

The Bible deals with Hope in many passages and many ways. It is powerful and encouraging.  However, there are contrasts of Hope in the spiritual and natural realms.  We have all heard someone say, “Well, we can only hope,” or “All we can do now is hope.”  Those are statements of despair, not faith.  Those are resignations to what the natural would call inevitable.  It is aligning the mind and heart with the report or prognosis of failure and destruction. 

I’ve had Christians tell me, after prayer, “I’m hoping,” or “I hope so.”  What I hear in those situations is the use of the word Hope in a defeatist sense and it breaks my heart.  I know the experience.  I know what it is to feel hopeless and not see a way out of the situation.  I know what it is to face a diagnosis that is anything but positive and then have everything that transpires validate the sentence of death or destruction.  I know what it is to be overcome with a sense of Hopelessness.  So, please understand I am not speaking condemnation to anyone who is battling and struggling with Hope or the lack thereof.  I hope to offer a higher Hope than that the world affords.

The Definition of Hope from man’s perspective is – A feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.  A feeling of trust.  Merriam-Webster defines it as – to cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true.  To desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment. To expect with confidence. 

But what does the Bible say about Hope?  What is Bible Hope?  From the text passage, it is clear, that Hope has Faith, but Hope is not Faith, nor is it Love.  It is a separate condition and that makes it important for us to understand and consider.  I believe that Hope is a foundational part of Faith and faith is a foundational part of Hope.  They are inextricably linked and should be viable elements in the Christian’s thoughts and prayers. 

Some consider Hope nothing more than wishy-washy unsure optimism and wishful thinking.  A prevalent mentality in today’s world is that Hope is “to wish for, to expect, but without certainty of the fulfillment; to desire very much but with no real assurance of getting the desire.”  In the Bible Hope means, “a strong and confident expectation.”  In that sense, we would almost say it is Faith for the Hebrews 11 definition of Faith is, “…the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  I suggest to you that Hope is the subject of Faith, and it is rooted in Expectation!  It is rooted and grounded upon God’s Word, God’s Promises, and God’s Covenant!

Romans 8:24-25 tells us that it is in Hope that we are saved…  It further states that hope that is seen is not hope because you do not hope for what you have you hope for what is not now evident.  You hope for that which you expectantly await.  You have a need, like healing, and you hope for a full recovery.  If you are well, you are not Hoping for Healing but if you are sick hope comes into play.  Therefore, hope is a product of need and upon entering into a condition of need and you allow expectation to arise in your heart Hope Comes Alive!

The apostle Paul made an incredible statement regarding Abraham in Romans 4.  Paul related the account of Abraham when God had given him the promise of a son, born of Sarah, his treasured wife. God said, “Abraham, I have made you the father of many nations…”  Sarah was barren and yet God said you are going to be the father of many nations.  God did not say, “I’m going to make you, but I have made you…” 

Paul then said, “God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did…”  It is there in that condition that Paul says of Abraham that he, “contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations.”  The KJV renders it, “Who against hope believed in hope…” 

I believe that we better understand this declaration and understanding of Abraham’s situation is that when the natural conditions suggest it was impossible, he refused to allow human reason to define his condition and situation.  When God gave Abraham the promise, he rejected human reason as a definition or explanation or justification for not receiving but he clung to the Promise of God and considered it done! 

He heard, “I have made,” not “I will make.”  He heard God’s declaration and hoped even when everything in him said, “This is Hopeless.”  The end of that hope was Isaac and the fulfillment of God’s Promise. The end of that was that God looked at Abraham’s hope and saw faith and obedience and the Bible says it was imputed to him for righteousness. 

As we stand today, many of us are facing situations and conditions that man says are Hopeless but like Abraham, we need to align our words, our minds, our hearts, and our actions with God’s Promises and His Word.  We are to Hope not as the world hopes but with Expectation!

God, bless you as you enjoy this day in Jesus!

Psalm 46:1-3 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.”  NKJV

The Psalmist tells us in verse 10, “Cease striving and know that I am God.”  The word CEASE in Hebrew means “relax.”  You will never discover the tent of Power that God desires to build over each of us if we keep scurrying around, fretting stressed out with pressure.  Stress will ultimately win out and destroy you if you do not learn to “Cast all your care on the Lord…”  I read a Poem a few years ago, that I will share with you and hope it inspires and encourages you.

“Slow Me Down, Lord.

Ease the pounding of my heart by quieting my mind.

Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.

Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of the everlasting hills.

Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory.

Teach me the art of taking minute vacations, of slowing down and looking at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to smile at a child, to read a few lines from a good book.

Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soil of life’s enduring values, that I may grow toward my greater destiny.

Remind me each day that the race is not always to the swift; that there is more to life than increasing speed.

Let me look upward to the towering oak and know that it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well.”

That resonates in my heart powerfully.  For God to counteract the incredible toll that stress takes, We Must Slow Down!  It is My Stress countered by God’s Strength!  Let me offer three practical thoughts regarding the matter of finding God’s Strength in our condition of Stress.

• GOD’S STRENGTH IS IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE.

Our trials are not superficial or irrelevant they are vehicles of Grace that God uses to produce growth in our lives.  I heard a humorous illustration that conveys a wonderful message.

A man went to his doctor, complaining that he was constantly having severe headaches.  The doctor inquired, “Do you smoke?”  The man said, “Well, yes I do.”  The doctor said, “Stop smoking.”  The man stopped but the headaches persisted, so he went back to the doctor. The doctor asked, “Do you drink?”  The man said, “Yes, I do.”  The doctor said, “Stop drinking.”  He did but the headaches did not diminish.  He went back to the doctor and the doctor asked, “Does your job cause you to engage in any physical labor that would in some way put pressure on your back?”  The man said, “Well, yes it does.”  The doctor said, “Quit that job.”  He quit his job and took another lesser position, but the headaches did not go away.  Every day the pain pulsed through his head and finally he realized that he was wearing a size 15 collar on a size 16 neck.  Problem solved!

Superficial problems call for superficial solutions but the real-life stresses to the bone, they touch every nerve and need a supernatural solution.  God is our Present Help in the time of need.

• GOD’S POWER IS OVERPOWERING.

There is no power like God’s Power. There is no anointing like God’s anointing. There is no Peace like God’s peace. He is OMNIPOTENT.

• GOD’S POWER IS NOT DEPENDENT UPON OUR HELP OR ABILITY

We need to remember we are weak, but He is Strong!  Have you felt your weakness lately?  Are your life-changing units nearing the 300 mark?  God is ready to assist.  Why are we insistent on carrying the Load Alone?  Why do we allow Stress & Pressure to destroy our lives?  Why are we content to be robbed of our Joy, Peace, and Happiness?  God is ready to come to us and operate in us and help us Relax!   Jesus said, “Take My Yoke upon you for my yoke is easy and my burden light.”  If you can say, “I am Stressed & Pressured out of measure and I need God’s help and strength, HE OFFERS HELP!” 

Let me ask a few simple questions:  Do you Believe God is God, and His Word is True?  Do You Believe that God can do what He said He would do?  Then, come to Him, casting your care on Him knowing that He not only cares for you but has provided for you. He will cleanse your heart and mind.  He will renew your spirit and give you refreshing.  He will refill and refuel you.  Cast Your Burdens on the Lord – – He Cares For You!

God, bless you richly as you enjoy this day!

Psalm 46:1-3 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling.”  NKJV

If you examine the biblical record and the historic evidence of what was transpiring at the writing of the Psalm you discover that it was in the context of extreme stress & pressure!   It is a healing balm for everyone who is bowed down under the load of the Cares of this Life.  Martin Luther, a man constantly under pressure and satanic attack, found that Psalm 46 was a powerful comforting Promise of Peace and because of its message penned the hymn: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, A Bulwark Never Failing.” 

The first verses of this Psalm introduce the theme of the entire Psalm.  It could be paraphrased like this: “God Is Our Instant Help When We Are in A Tight Squeeze.”  The word TROUBLE in the Hebrew means to be restricted or tied up in a narrow, cramped place.  I know that Place! 

There is the old saying we have all heard and probably used, “Between a Rock and a Hard Place.”  That is exactly the spot the Psalmist was in when God inspired him to pen the 46^th Psalm.  Stress means that I am being pressed and pressured.  It is being squeezed in a tight place.  Stress, negative stress, is doing a number on us.  The Psalmist is telling us that in those times God is Our Refuge and Strength!

When you are stressed and under the heavy weight of pressure and being pushed down exposing your weakness and humanity that is a difficult place.  But the Promise of God is that in those times He is building a Tent of Refuge for us.  He is protecting us!  He is surrounding us with His love, care, power, and might.  He has given His angels charge over us to Protect Us.  In those times and at all times His Strength is available for us IF we will learn to receive it and tap into it.

In this Psalm, the writer calls to mind three situations that can, do damage to our faith and cause fear to well up in our hearts.  He identifies these situations to help us to realize that stress & pressure are not the Final desired, Destination in God – PEACE IS!

• Natural Calamities – – Psalm 46:1-3.  When those come, the natural reaction is Fear but for the one Trusting in God the reaction is or will become “I Will Not Fear!’
• Civil Disturbance – – Psalm 46:4-7.  The city was under attack and the natural reaction is PANIC but for the one Trusting in God the reaction is or will become, “GOD IS IN THE MIDST OF HER, SHE WILL NOT BE MOVED.”
• Post Battle Fatigue – – Psalm 46:8-11.  At that moment when it would be easy to give up or go into hiding the attitude for the person Trusting in God, we declare that we will, “Cease Striving and know that God is God so, therefore, I WILL NOT STRIVE.”

We can conquer Fear! If we take God’s Promises to heart and believe them to be current realities and available we can stand as the Psalmist and declare that even if the earth should change, the mountains quake, and fire roar around us. GOD IS OUR BRIDGE OVER TROUBLE WATERS! 

The question is, “IS HE?”  Is He to us personally?  We need to search our own hearts with total transparency and honesty and see where God fits in our lives in peace and in trouble.  I want to offer a few passages that I believe will inspire confidence in your heart.

Isaiah 41:10 – “Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.”

2 Timothy 1:7 – “For God, has not given us the Spirit of Timidity (fear), but of Power and Love and Discipline (sound mind).”

Joshua 1:9 – “Be strong and very courageous.”

Psalm 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall, I fear? The Lord is the defense (strength) of my life; whom shall I dread?”

Psalm 27:10 – “For my father and mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me up.”

In times of heavy assault from stress & pressure, God extends to us His invitation to come to Him and rest in His Loving Embrace and Protective Covering.  In those times, we are to Stand Fast as Psalm 46:5 declares, “God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved.”  The word Moved in Hebrew means to totter and shake. 

The song “All Shook Up” was made popular by the late Elvis Presley.  He was born dirt poor in a little Mississippi town and was an only child.  He had little encouragement and no special skills. At the age of 18, making $14 a week as a truck driver, he decided to make a recording on a lark.  You know the rest of the story as he became the best-paid male entertainer in America.  But shortly before Elvis died, he said, “I would give a million dollars for one week of a normal life and peace.”  Money cannot relieve stress and fame won’t cure it.  The Only Cure is God!

I want to pursue this at least one more time so I will pause here and say, May the Lord Bless you and Keep you and Guard and Guide you as you enjoy this day in Him!