FRESH HOPE! Anyone feeling like you need an extra dose of
that today – like right now? And where
is it going to come from? All it takes
is a listening ear and open eyes, and your senses are inundated by real-life
stories of the hurting, the struggling, the down-and-out, the belief that no
one believes in you – much less God!
Turn around a few times and you begin to see the faces and hear the
voices … they are multiplying in fast-forward fashion. So, we’d agree, right? The problems are real. There’s no denying them. If we stick our head in the sand and pretend
that these accounts are not true, that does not change a thing, except to
reinforce to the hurting that they indeed, do not matter. That dare not be our message! Now – or ever! My husband and I have seen an increase in the
numbers of those seeking help – just in these past few months. And these people are coming from all arenas
of life. We hear similar stories from
both the homeless and the successful professionals. The attacks and onslaughts from Satan are
coming fast and furious. We believe God
is calling us to step up the pace in ministering to those who need hope. This world surely is not offering any. Many people do not have enough hope for
themselves - and certainly do not share any with others. So where is it going to come from? If any of this resonates with you … then this
just might be YOUR day to find the hope that you’ve been searching for, but
always seem to fall short of finding!
The only thing more heartbreaking than knowing that someone has given up
on themselves, is to hear them say that they’ve given up on God and on
others. And it is at this change-point
in life, that we make the choice either by doing something or by doing nothing –
to grasp for HOPE or to simply give up.
There’s no more dangerous place for people to find themselves in! Enter:
us! As individuals. As the church. But what do most Christians think church
is? For many, it’s about, “am I going to
church today … or am I staying home?”
Both my husband and I love what the singer, Carman, has to say about
this. “God is not calling us to go to
church; He is calling us to be His church, the hope of the world.” And just how do become His church in action
that brings hope? It starts with each of
us in the arena that God has placed us.
We must have the kind of intimate connection with God that allows us to
live in the overcoming knowledge and authority that we are loved and valued by
God – before we can teach that to anyone else.
Our words won’t matter much to someone who feels hopeless. But – if they watch – and see us living with
the kind of hope that keeps us going day after day, that keeps us filled with
joy no matter the circumstances, that keeps us knowing that we are children of
the Living King, that keeps us sharing the love of Christ by example – then they
will listen to us when we speak to them and share the HOPE that lives within
us. They will see it as genuine and real
– and think that – just maybe, maybe, maybe – there is hope for them and that
their lives can be different than the pit they have been stuck in for so
long. Church, God is calling us out to
be real – for reasons just like the note that we received this week. We will never reveal “who” it came from … but
we have hope that through Christ’s rescuing power, this person will
someday stand before others with an outstanding testimony of what hope in
Christ can do for the hopeless. Listen
to these words that practically broke our hearts: “I have been pushed far too far. I do not believe in God
anymore. Maybe He was never in my life
at all, maybe it was really the devil. I
can’t believe God would just keep pushing.
My life is mixed up right now so I don’t know where I will be at.” Are we going to pursue this person in their
hopeless state, or just let them go? The
answer is that we will do everything through the power that Christ gives us to
restore hope in this person’s life.
Because this life matters to God.
And because this life matters to us!
This note tells the tale of a life being lived without hope. On another note, we find in Hebrews 6:19 that
“we have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” The footnote on this verse explains that like
an anchor holding a ship safely in position, our hope in Christ guarantees our
safety. Where else can we find a guarantee
like this? Who does not long to feel
firm, secure, and safe these days in the midst of such swirling, consuming
hopelessness? What is our part in this
guarantee? Well a few chapters further
in Hebrews 10:23, we are instructed: “Let
us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” This kind of a hold means “without doubt or
hesitation.” That means we’ve got to
hang on for dear life to the hope our God promises us and gives us – without fail. He does His part! And our part hangs heavy in the swaying
balance – because the outcome is eternal.
It’s not just about this hour or today or tomorrow. Our part and our response determines what
kind of a life we will live here on earth – and where we will spend eternity,
and with who! Dear ones, if you are in
need of some fresh hope right now, do not doubt and do not wait any
longer! Cry out to God and give us a
call. We will be here for you and show
you how and where to find hope in His unfailing love and salvation! Take heart!
Fresh hope is awaiting you!
REMEMBER . .
.
“Hope
is faith holding out its hands in the dark.”
~ George Iles
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
