Reflections on “HOPE!” March 1, 2022

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13.

What is the pathway to Hope in the Lord? It comes through the mind. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9.

When the mind and heart dwell on worldly things, they entertain thoughts of fear and lies. Meanwhile, God’s four-letter words are love, pure, holy, and true. His Words are true, filled with love, and the challenge to live a pure life reflecting the goodness of His Son, Jesus.

From where does our Hope emanate? It begins with the Blessed Assurance that Jesus is mine. How do we know? Because of His Great Love. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 3:12-14.

Jesus died on the cross, as our sacrifice for us to have a way that is sure to receive an inheritance. On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead. After appearing to hundreds, He returned to Heaven. And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. I Corinthians 6:14.

How can this be? My little brother, sitting on the front pew of the church, tried to tie his shoe. When a well-meaning lady stopped and tried to help, she was refused. My little brother never stopped, saying, “I ‘ten do it by myself!” I often remember the term, “Pull yourselves up by your bootstraps!” That isn’t an act of depending on God.

Depending on God means to pray to God for His help, learning how to do so, by reading His Word and learning how to please Him by breathing the breath He gives me. Praying praises for our Lord for Who He is — A mighty warrior of Love and Strength. The verses that stopped me are found in Exodus 14: 13-14. And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again. The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

We often say, ‘God’s got this!’ for encouragement to others. We know Who has the power and holds the creation together! When man makes things, they grow old, rust, crumble and quit working. No amount of insurance can prolong the life of man-made appliances, cars, or planes.  “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” Jesus taught this in Matthew 6:19-20.

Another way of depending on God is the act of waiting. This is implied in the Exodus scripture and continues again in Psalm 37:7a. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him. 

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the chariots with fire. “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:9-10.

It is only the love of God that provides Peace on earth, good will to men stills the desire for pride and greed in the hearts of men. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12.

God gave three men faith – yet didn’t deliver them from the clutches of King Nebuchadnezzar. They had hope through faith. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the golden image that I have set up? Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, to fall down and worship the image that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace. And who is the god who will deliver you out of my hands?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. Daniel 3:14-17. The rest of the story is this, And the satraps, the prefects, the governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together and saw that the fire had not had any power over the bodies of those men. The hair of their heads was not singed, their cloaks were not harmed, and no smell of fire had come upon them. Nebuchadnezzar answered and said, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his angel and delivered his servants, who trusted in him, and set aside the king’s command, and yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God.  Daniel 3:27-28.

Hope is the anticipation of what God will do in our lives. Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” I Peter 1:13-16.

Hope and Humility hold hands. We see our Father in Heaven values the humble person. What is humility? For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. Romans 12:3.

Jesus obeyed His Father in heaven on earth and He is our example to submit to God’s purpose for our lives. We often want material things that will not last for an eternity. Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love. Psalm 33:18.