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Musings on Faith #47 Hope in the Day of Evil | |
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It goes without saying that we are in the midst of a crisis, not only of finances and economics, but also of uncertainty, doubt and fear, perhaps mixed with questions of whether our national leaders will prove themselves capable of getting us through or of making right and wise decisions. In such times, we might say, "Oh, I hope we can get through all this!" Thinking of such hope made me turn to the Certain Hope that is ours in Jesus Christ. Hope in things of this earth - hope in people, including our elected officials and business leaders, hope in a good outcome to the present crisis, hope in our financial institutions, and so on - all these are just hope, just like hoping our team will win the big game in football or some other sport. There is no certainty in such hope. But hope in the Lord is a Certain Hope, and we need to look to Him as the author and source of our hope. To that end, I want to just share with you some of the many wonderful Scriptures found in both the Old and New Testaments concerning hope in the Lord, to remind you, and me, that as Christians our hope is, indeed, in the Lord, and that secure in that hope, we have nothing to fear. All quotes below are from the King James version. "Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord (Psalm 31:24)." "Thou [God] art my hope in the day of evil (Jeremiah 17:17b)." "The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him (Lamentations 3:24)." "For |
we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith (Galations 5:5)." "For the [certain] hope that is laid up for you in heaven (Colossians 1:5a)." "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)." "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? (1 Thessalonians 2:19)." "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on . . . the hope of salvation (1 Thessalonians 5:8)." ". . . everlasting consolation and good hope through grace (2 Thessalonians 2:16)." "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began (Titus 1:2)." "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13)." "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7)." "Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast (Hebrews 6:19a)." "Happy is he . . . whose hope is in the Lord his God (Psalm 146:5)." "For we are saved by hope (Romans 8:24a)." "Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee (Zechariah 9:12)." God is for us, fellow Christians. Therefore who can be against us? Yours in Christ, |
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