This is such a small verse, only 10 words in length, but this one verse has SO much in it.
First of all, let's find out what 'hope' means?
"Rejoicing in hope"
'Hope' in the Webster dictionary means:
- a feeling that what is wanted will happen
- a person or thing from which something may be hoped
- trust; reliance
- to want very much
One of the definitions for 'hope' is: "to want very much"
I want very much to see the day where there will be no more sorrows, no more heartaches, or burdens to bear, no more suffering, diseases, or death. Do you want very much to see that day?
It makes me think of the song "What A Day That Will Be" -- which is my hubby's favorite song.
There is coming a day
When no heartaches shall come,
No more clouds in the sky,
No more tears to dim the eye;
All is peace forevermore
On that happy golden shore
What a day, glorious day that will be.
There'll be no sorrow there,
No more burdens to bear,
No more sickness,
No pain,
No more parting over there;
And forever I will be
With the One who died for me,
What a day, glorious day that will be.
Next, let's look at where our hope should be?
"And now, Lord, what wait I for? My hope is in thee." Psalms 39:7
"Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is." Jeremiah 17:7
Our hope should be in the Lord.
"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord." Psalms 31:24
Ladies, no matter what is going on around us, we can still rejoice in hope knowing our hope in the Lord is not in vain.
There are those who have no hope in this world. I wonder at times how those who do not know the Lord as their Saviour make it through difficult times or even manage to go from day to day. It's our responsibility to be ready to share our hope with them.
I Peter 3:15 "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"
We have NOTHING to be ashamed of when our hope is in the Lord. Look at what Psalms 119:116 says, "Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope."
This world isn't ashamed (sad to say) of the immoral, ungodly ways they are promoting (homosexuality, immodesty in dress in behavior, adultery, abortions, the evilness portrayed in the movies that do influence those who watch them). The world goes out of their way to promote their wickedness---which let me remind you there is no hope in what they promote!
Why don't we go out of our way to 'promote' our hope in the Lord? How can we 'promote' our hope in the Lord?
- Pass our gospel tracts
- Spend more time in prayer over lost loved ones (and our nation and the leaders that make decisions)
- Tell others of our hope in the Lord
Let's share our hope that we have in the Lord as Christians.
The second part of the verse says: "Patient in tribulation"
Patience? What is patience? Many of us, including myself, don't quiet understand patience because we don't carry that characteristic in our daily lives. We want it NOW...and not one second later.
Do you ever have that attitude about prayers you pray to the Lord? We feel our prayers should be answered (Let me say) "microwave style" - pop them in for a minute and it's done and over with...and WOW our problem, testing, or trial is gone. It doesn't happen that way, does it? NO!
Here we see we need to be 'patient in tribulation'. Of all times we need to practice patience--in the midst of our problems or difficulties in life. If we (including me) could just grasp this portion, we could turn misery into glory.
If we could just grasp that NOTHING comes our way that hasn't first been through God's Hands - He has sent this tribulation our way with a purpose in mind--and it is for our good!
We all know that familiar verse in Romans 8:28 which says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose."
We all can quote this verse. It's easy to rattle it off to someone else, but do YOU believe it when it's YOU that's put in the midst of a problem or difficult circumstance?
Somtimes when we are suffering heartbreak, tragedy, disappointment, frustation, and bereavement, we wonder what good can come out of it. Romans 8:29 gives the answer:"For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
Whatever God permits to come into our lives is designed to conform us to the image of His Son. Our lives are not controlled by chance, luck, or fate, but by our wonderful Lord. Our Lord makes no mistakes.
Last part posted tomorrow..."Continuing instant in prayer"
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