There Is Hope
There Is Hope
Audio Version Coming Soon!
There is hope. Not because of what we do or even who we are but because of what God has done for us. Our hope is not in our circumstances or our eloquent speech but because God so loved us, all of us in this world, that He sent His only begotten Son into this world that we might live.
Let us remember what Jesus tells us in John.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16 ESV
God’s gift is a gift of grace, filled with mercy, love, faithfulness and promise. A total commitment.
How do we view God’s love for us, His gift to us?
Can we take a side track for a just for a moment to get a healthy perspective?
How many of us would send our only, let me say that word again, only, child; son or daughter, into harm's way, knowing what they will suffer for people, many that would reject them, so that you could have a relationship with them? The people I'm referring to would include grumbling, complaining, evil, unsatisfied, whining, sometimes plain gnarly and unpleasant people. I left off a few adjectives, but there isn't enough room or time to include all of them. These don’t just describe non-Christian people; these adjectives at some point in our lives refers to all of us, ‘all mankind’ who have been, who are here now, and who are to come.
A long sentence I know but ponder on it a moment, please.
Forgive me for the drama but the words “momma grizzly” come to mind. We protect that which is precious to us, those we love. Even as a society, we get “up in arms,” angry and protective of children or those that are unable to protect themselves, even if they are in a different country. We can feel sad, alarmed or even appalled but send our infant child to grow in a world to die for them, particularly when they don’t even have an interest in being saved. Or the very people that you would be sending your child to save are the very ones that reject, beat, and crucify them. Hmm.
Not so much.
I want to be clear here. I am not referring to any one population group. I am referring to ALL population groups; this includes you and me.
Ok, I just wanted each of us to grasp the price paid and one we would not be inclined to pay. We might sacrifice our lives, but I know of none who would intentionally have our child to be given the way God sent His Son.
The thought of God's love for me takes my breath away and it should be yours as well.
BUT unfortunately for all of us, we get caught up in everyday living, and the thought about the price God paid gets a bit dusty from lack of consideration and attention. Often we take the greatest gift to mankind for granted. Not in so many words but in our actions.
How do we care for this precious gift? We guard our hearts.
We guard this gift from God as if it was the greatest gift we would ever receive because it is. We guard our hearts with all that we have. Then we ask the Holy Spirit to rise in us and help us, guide us, remind us, and empower us to stand against the forces of evil that desire to steal and destroy our relationship with God. If He can't destroy our relationship with God next best plan is to make us dull and ineffective.
The story of a frog comes to mind. It has been said, when you put a frog in a pan of cold water the from will sit and not sense any danger. Turn on the heat low, although the water warms the from becomes comfortable, relaxed. As the water heats to a boiling it is too late the from can't escape.
We are no different.
We get lulled into everyday living. We watch TV for ‘mindless entertainment’ to rest our minds; so we say. We get caught up in “mindless electronic games” to rest our minds; again, so we say. Often we get caught up in the wheel of “going…going…going,” we feel good because we are busy, sometimes even doing good, and our mind feels good about ourselves.
Then again, there are times in our lives that things are not so good and we get caught up in despair, rejection, failure, or circumstances that appear greater than anything we could overcome.
We need to be reminded not just of the cost of the gift God has given us but that He has a plan, a perfect plan for our lives.
The Prophet Isaiah tells us:
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and hope.”
Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
We can trust Him in the midst of all that is going on, good or bad; in our imperfection or His grace; God is faithful, He paid the ultimate price to show His love for us.
Guard our hearts, minds, and our bodies. Think on these things Paul tells us:
“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.”
Philippians 4:8 ESV
We have the freedom to choose, by God's gift to us, we do have the freedom to choose what we think on and what we do with those things that we allow in our minds to ponder. We have the freedom to choose to guard our thoughts, words, and deeds.
Let us put in place a plumb line to judge our thoughts: Is it true? Is it honorable? Is it just? Is it pure? Is it lovely? Is it commendable?
Whether we are considering our circumstances, spouses, co-workers, neighbors let us use the plumb-line to determine how much time we allow our minds to consider. It has been said it is one thing for a bird to land on us but a whole other story to build a house for that bird to dwell.
"Think about these things"…What our minds dwell on we expose our hearts to. We must guard our hearts and the gift that dwells within by starting with our guarding our mind.
Today, can you set your plans to not just receiving God’s gift to you but guarding that gift with intentional determination each day?
