What are You Hoping for?

Our pastors have been teaching on Hope for the past several weeks.  With everything going on the world, it’s especially important to hold on the hope right now.  Hope is favorable or joyful expectation – expecting good things to happen even when you don’t see them or understand how they will happen.  It’s not always easy to do.  But Christians have been called to walk by faith and not by what we can see with our eyes (2 Cor 5:7).  The world can be a treacherous place – hatred and fear drive people to do some awful things.  But our God already knows that – He knows that the heart is wicked (Jer 17:9) and that the only way for us to ever line up with His Word and Will is through being filled with the Holy Spirit.  We can’t live a fulfilled live on our own. That’s why God sent Jesus.  Jesus came to earth so that we might have life and with one that is more full than we could ever provide for ourselves (John 10:10).  Jesus is the only way to the Father.  He is our Hope (Romans 2:8-9).

You know, I’ve been dealing with myself, wanting to do and be more and more like Jesus.  I don’t completely know what that looks like for me, but I know it should be obvious that I’ve been with Him.  See, when we intentionally and consistently focus on Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit can and will work powerfully through us – He is the one to give us power to do God’s work (2 Tim 1:7). We can never do under our own power what the Holy Spirit can do – it’s just not possible.  We don’t have the capacity or the strength (2 Cor 12:9-10).  Unfortunately, it takes some of us a really long time to realize that.  When we stop relying on ourselves and lean more and more into God, through Jesus Christ, we will be able to accomplish more, understand more, love more, and forgive more. We’re still human and we’ll still make mistakes and have troubles, but we’ll be quicker to acknowledge them and get back on track. 

I continue to work on this – focusing more and more on Jesus so I can lean more and more into Him – remember He and the Father are one.  I’m not there yet and I know I have a long way to go.  I used to ask for things – the latest computer or tablet, a new car, etc. – and don’t get me wrong, I sometimes still do and there’s nothing wrong with wanting nice things.  But, there are things that are so much more important – the things that last and are eternal.  I’ve been praying when people see me, they will see the Jesus in me here on earth.  I hope God will use me to make other people’s lives better….whether through a kind word or a generous heart or some sound counsel.  I want to love the way He loves.  I know I can’t do that without His Holy Spirit consistently working in my life, so I have some work to do.  I have to pray more consistently with intention and get out of His way, but be obedient to His will and His word.

I challenge you to take a moment and consider what are you hoping for?  What’s that thing you want to accomplish?  What’s that thing you’re striving for?  Are you seeking God first for wisdom and understanding so your desires line up with His will?  If not, no better time than the present to start seeking Him.  Remember, Hope is favorable expectation. Don’t lose sight of it, no matter what is going on at the time.  If God be for you, who can be against you (Romans 8:31)?

Love God First and Others as Yourself

I’ve debated writing this, but felt I had to, given where we are in the world today and several conversations I’ve had over the past week. 

This has been an extremely hard few months for me.  From the onset of COVID-19 to the latest racial incident, I have really been searching myself to consider what to do next.  As a person who lives alone, I’ve been physically alone most of this time of shelter in place orders and quarantines.  It’s been hard.  Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love people….for the most part.  I mean I love my alone time, but when I want alone time, not when dictated by circumstances outside my control.  I’ve missed hugs and sitting close and laughing together, but we are taught in the Word to be wise (Proverbs 8:31) so I continue with social distancing and protecting those around me. 

Add to that the latest senseless deaths of three black people (two by the police) due to racism that is still systemic in this country.  It’s been hard.  I’ve been angry at the losses and disheartened by the fact that this is the reality we live it.  These situations are not new, they are just publicized now.  Just think, given the incidents that have happened over the past few months that have been recorded and shared, how many more weren’t.  For the people who have committed the offences, how comfortable must they be to know they are being recorded and still commit them?  How confident must they be that they will get away with them not to hesitate and continue doing them? How many times have they done them before? 

I would wager that if you’re a black American adult in this country, you’ve had at least one encounter that you know was race-based.  Where does hatred and distrust like this come from?  Fear of the unknown.  Fear someone will get something you believe should be yours.  Fear of loss.  Fear of change to the status quo.  I never thought I would quote Yoda (from Star Wars) in a blog, but here goes.  According to him, "Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."  I never thought how true this is.  If you don’t face fear or counter it with faith, any of us could go down a dark path and how many people suffer as a result.  And think of how hate-filled and miserable someone must be to kill a man in the street and not hesitate at all. 

What the answer?  A change of people’s hearts.  Ultimately, it’s a heart issue.  If we did what the bible instructs by loving God first and then love our neighbors as ourselves (Luke 10:27), we wouldn’t be able to hurt someone else, no matter what happened. We need prayer and we need Jesus and we need action to support our faith.  Faith without works is dead (James 2:17).

I’m not naturally an activist and I hate confrontation, but I’ve had to question my next steps.  I recently wrote to my Senators about the issues we face, but all of us have a role to play.  So what can we do? 

• Stand together – all people who know these actions are wrong.  
• Speak up and against it when you hear people disparaging someone due to race - silence in most cases is considered agreement.  
• Teach children that all men are created equal and in God’s image – all lives are equally valuable and must be treated as such. 
• Hold people accountable who treat people differently because of race – the police, the banks, employers, health providers, etc.   
• Vote for people who believe in equality and justice – while it’s a heart issue, some things must be legislated because not all hearts will be changed – not everyone will choose Jesus. 
• Pray that God will change the heart of those who hate – He holds the hearts of the king (Proverbs 21:1).  
• Love those around you and help those less fortunate – that’s our responsibility – think what we would want someone to do for us.

During this time, stay safe and remember we are one community.  We are all responsible for doing what is right. 

Who Are You Praying To?

So this morning, I read my devotional and a couple of questions grabbed me.  What do you see in your mind when you think about Jesus/God?  Do you see Jesus on the Cross or do you see Him seated at the right hand of God?  I guess I’d never thought about that before.  I almost always think of Jesus on the cross. I mean, I usually wear a cross as a reminder of His great sacrifice for my salvation. 

But by thinking of Him on the cross, how am I limiting His power in my life?  What do I not ask for because of where I see Him in my mind?  Jesus is so much bigger than the cross.  He holds the keys to Death and Hell (Rev 1:18).  God raised Him from the dead and He’s seated at the right hand of God.  The one and only living God who sits on the throne (heaven) and the earth is His footstool (Isaiah 66:1). 

Have you ever thought, when you’re going through a problem or there’s some obstacle that seems so big, the God who loved you enough to send His Son to die and shed blood for your sins is the same God who is resting His feet on the earth.  Needless to say, my mind was blown when I thought about it. 

That’s why God made it clear that His thoughts are so much higher than our thoughts and His ways so much higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:9).  We can’t think or imagine what He can do, because we can’t comprehend how vast and powerful He really is…..we don’t recognize how big He is.  Stop limiting God by your own thoughts, seek His.  Stop limiting God by your will, seek His (Matt. 6:33).   

We tend to fear what we don’t understand and can’t control.  If we trust God to lead and guide us knowing He is all-knowing and that He created and owns it all, why are we really concerned?  Is it because we don’t know the outcome?  No matter what we do, we won’t know it anyway.  We can guess but we can’t be sure. 

Trusting God to know what’s best and to have our best interests at heart, then being obedient to Him is the only sure way to know that everything will turn out okay (Romans 8:28), even when it doesn’t turn out the way we thought or imagined.  He’s got this, whatever it is.  Remember that the next time you pray.

Are you Seeking God or Trying to Figure it Out Yourself?

Have you ever stopped to think about what a small part of the whole we really are? How our problems aren’t exceptionally big in the grand scheme of things, no matter how they seem to us. For me, I’ve been stressing about all these decisions I have to make at work and some of them feel really big…career changing.  I've been praying about them, but without receiving the peace I was expecting.  

This morning, I read the book of Lamentations.  It was a hard book for me to read.  It’s a book about a prophet crying out because his country is suffering and desperate, as a result of her own actions.  What got me in this book, and reflecting on my life right now, is that even when God is angry with us and we are disciplined, there is still love.  God still loves us and hears us when we cry out to Him.  Even when we don’t seek Him first, He’s still there because He loves us.  He’s there in our weakness and He wants to be our strength and provide us answers.  They may not be on our timetable but He is faithful even when we’re not, because that is His nature. 

God wants us to lean on Him in everything and everywhere, no matter the circumstance whether it be big or small.  He wants our surrender and our obedience.  Sometimes, He has to show us who we are, so we acknowledge who He is.  This morning, I finally recognized that I was trying to do God’s job by figuring it all out by myself, as if I ever could, instead of seeking Him and asking Him for the answers.  I was under the impression that this problem was too small to really depend on God to provide the answers - how arrogant. What a waste of time and energy and tears and frustration!  While I realize God won’t do for me what I can do for myself, I can’t do what God can in and through me.  Have you realized the difference?

Do You Know Jesus?

Are you saved?  These are questions that are asked in conversation and even in Church and because people go to church, we often assume that everyone understands the questions.  Not so.  There is a difference between knowing who Jesus is and knowing Him.

Anyone who’s ever been in a Christian church has been told that Jesus is God’s Son and our Savior but what does that mean to you.  Is He some abstract being that oversees your life, but isn’t really a part of it or Lord over it? 

Romans 10 vs 9 says that if you confess the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.  Remember, that requires that you also believe that He was born of God, died on the cross for your sins (because He was always without sin and perfect) and was buried first.  That’s what salvation is all about…..relationship with God through Christ Jesus as Lord.  Have you done that?  If not, you are not saved. 

That’s not condemnation or judgement, that’s the truth according to the Word of God.  No matter how many days a week or years of your life have been spent going to church and doing “good” things, according to the Bible’s simple instructions, you aren’t saved if you have not confessed and believed. 

But don’t lose hope, God loved all of us so much that He sent Jesus to die for us...and then He raised Jesus from the grave.  Can you think of anything or anyone that you love enough to send your parent or sibling or child to die for?  Or that you would die for?  That’s how much God loves you.  No matter what you’ve done or are doing, He loves you so much and He wants a relationship with you…..a real one where you can be yourself with everything that you are and trust that He knows you better than you know yourself.  He is the only one who can change your life for the better, even when it doesn’t feel like it. 

So….the ball is in your court.  You can choose to believe God’s Word or you can choose to deny Jesus and His actions on the cross!  But remember, you’re choices have consequences.  Choosing to believe means that you want a life that, while it won’t be free from issues or drama, will be full or God’s love and grace and mercy.  You’ll never be alone and the Holy Spirit will empower you to face whatever comes. Eternal life with God is pretty good, too.  Who doesn’t want that?  The Devil.  He wants you to lose and be scared and guilty.  Don’t let him have that from you.

And just in case you need it, here’s a simple prayer for salvation:

God, I’m a sinner.  I confess my sins to you and ask for your forgiveness.  I believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay the price for my sins and that you raised Him from the dead so that I can be saved.  I ask You to be Lord of my life.  I want a relationship with you and to be your child.  In Jesus' name, I pray.  Amen!

 

If you did pray that prayer for the first time and mean it, find a good bible based church to attend and don’t let anything or anyone stop you from developing a real relationship with God.  When everyone else disappoints you, He won’t.  His answers to your prayers may not be “Yes”, but they will always be right. 

 

This is your life!  What are you going to do with it? Choose God/Jesus/the Holy Spirit!!!!  That's your first step.  With Them, you can’t lose!!!!

 

Plan but Don't Worry

While God doesn’t want us to worry about tomorrow, because it really will take care of itself, He doesn’t want us to ignore information we receive and not prepare for what may come.  For instance, the recent storms in Atlanta brought snow and ice and shut down the city for several days.  Now some may react with panic about what may possibly happen and that could paralyze them into not doing anything.  Others might wait until the last minute to act believing the information received is incorrect. 

At least a few believe in being prepared for whatever comes.  They plan what they’ll do if the power goes out.  They have flashlights and candles and bottled water to sustain them in case the worst comes.  They don’t worry because they do know that God will take care of them, but they utilize the information they have been provided because God always gives us what we need.

Just like Joseph interpreting the dreams that represented seven years of plenty and seven years of famine.  Joseph didn’t worry about how God would take care of him.  He knew God had taken care of him through slavery and prison.  But he followed God’s leading to prepare for the years of famine when they came.  The same goes for Noah, when he was told that it would rain and destroy the earth.  God gave him direction and he followed.  That is what we must do.  When we know things will happen, we must plan for them.  That means saving for when we get a flat tire or need a new battery for the car; or buying flashlights since we know we may lose electrical power; or taking a warm coat when we see that the weather is likely to take a turn toward colder temperatures.  These are minor examples, but they all hold true. 

God is God and He will not change.  He has our best interests at heart and will take care of us, but He gives us information so we can act.  When we don’t, we are the ones who suffer.  Trust God, take heed to the warnings and act.  You can only benefit from it.

Don't Give Up

Are you struggling where you are? Does it feel like you can't catch a break at work or school? Does it feel like things just won't go your way? Are things just out of whack? If so, maybe you should ask God the purpose of the struggle?

We never go through anything for no purpose. Maybe it's for some one else's benefit... that they might see God in your life. Maybe it's so you will develop a deeper relationship with Him. Maybe there's is a lesson to learn. Sometimes the best lessons are the most painful. It is during these times that strength is found.

Remember, we are weak, but He is strong. God always has something for us to do and He is always using our experiences to develop us. Whatever the reason, remember God will not put more on you than the two of you can handle. He's got every thing you need and if you seek Him, everything else will be added.

Have a Happy and Blessed New Year!