Everyone Needs Hope

Over the last few weeks there has been so much destruction and fright within the world. There have been bombings that have taken lives. There have also been explosions, threats between countries, an aircraft shot down, and the list could go on and on. The moral state of the world is also very low. Propaganda is being used to condone the actions of a child-killing organization. It seems you cannot turn the TV on without seeing the news of the latest murder or abduction. There are people that have tried to poison the president and other high officials. Politicians are always in uproar over domestic and foreign policies. As if all of that wasn’t enough, we see the devastation and heartache around us, in our communities, amongst our friends, and in our families. It seems like this world does not get a break from the strife and hopelessness it brings upon itself. 

Let’s face it. The world has always been the same. Selfishness seems to be the common theme everywhere. Everyone is living for self. Because of this, anger, strife, and hopelessness are some key emotions that are in the thoughts and hearts of the world. The Christian on the other hand, must rise above this, and bring hope to the world with all its troubles. After all, God’s people have always had hope in Him. The psalmist says, “For You are my hope…” (Psalm 71:5, NASB), when talking about God. Even in the New Testament, the Lord is the source of hope (e.g. 1 Peter 1:3). The early Christians were suffering for their hope, and Peter wanted them to defend the hope that was in them (3:15). Defending the hope that is in us does not mean to hide our hope in the corner. Remember that the world is dying from their hopelessness? Because of this, we need to rise up and bring them that hope! The hope that can make us peaceful after a disaster or dispute, hope that can cause the weary in spirit to be strong, and hope that only comes from our Lord Jesus Christ! Let us bring them that hope, “the hope of the gospel” (Colossians 1:23). 

If you would like to find the hope that is found only in Jesus Christ, but you do not know where to look, I pray you will contact this writer. The Lord's scriptures have made it so easy to find hope, and all we have to do is look towards Him. I would love to show you the way that He has given us! Please, contact me through Facebook or commenting below.

Words of a Caring Father

Absalom was a horrible man. This was a man who betrayed his country, his father, and his God. This man was so blood-thirsty that he even sought after the life of his own father, David (2 Samuel 15:14). While some would find this a crime punishable by death, David wished only the best for his beloved son Absalom (2 Samuel 18:5). Perhaps his compassion is one of the qualities that give him the description of “a man after God’s own heart.” As if this account isn’t sad enough as is, it only continues. Absalom soon dies, and while David’s subjects were rejoicing, he was weeping over his son’s cold-dead body, saying, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom!” (2 Samuel 18:33, NASB).  

            What a sad depiction we have here - A father, weeping over the body of his son, a son who hated him and betrayed him. I’m sure those of you who are parents can identify yourself with David. No matter what your son or daughter ever did or will do to you, no father or mother wants to see their child pass on before their eyes. God is no different in these emotions of life. David, while over his son’s dead body said, “Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!” (2 Samuel 18:33). God desires this for His creation as well. When man sins against God, it is as if they are nothing but cold-lifeless bodies (e.g. Ephesians 2:1). Like David, God only wants what is best for you and for me. So much so, that unlike David, who only wished that he could give up his life for his son, God has actually given up His life for you and me so that we do not have to suffer the price of eternal death because of our sins (e.g. John 3:16; Romans 5:6; Ephesians 2:4-7, 13). Even though we deserve the greatest of punishments for our sins, God loves us so much, that He has given us a way back to Him, through His blood. What a wonderful Father we have!

We must be a part of His church if we want to be participants of His great gift. Yes, God is a great God, who gladly gave His life for the world, but His sacrifice only covers those in the church (e.g. Acts 20:28). So we must make sure we are in His church if we want to come to life in Him. Until then, all we are is that dead-lifeless body like Absalom's. Until we come to God, He will still be crying over us, wishing and hoping to give us the gift of life He has prepared for us through His blood.

If you want to be a participant of His grace, but do not know how to get into the church, I hope you will contact this writer. God’s perfect word has made it so plain and simple to follow. I would love to have the honor of showing you how He has prepared for us to get into His church! You can contact me through Facebook, or you can comment below.

It's Not About Me But About God

Do you ever feel as if you are not good enough? Do you ever feel that you do not know what to say? Do you ever feel that you do not hold proper knowledge? Well, I know I have at times, and these excuses can sometimes get in the way of our job to evangelize to the lost souls of the world. 

Moses had the same problem. When the Lord was speaking to Moses from the burning bush and chose him as a tool to use in order to deliver His people (Exodus 3:1-4:17), Moses thought it was all about him. Moses says, “What if they do not believe ME or listen to what I say?” (4:1 NASB, emphasis added). Yet God made this excuse void by giving Moses three sings to use, proving that it was not Moses, but the Lord working through Moses (4:2-9). Following this, Moses gives yet another excuse, and says, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent…for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” (4:10 emphasis added).  Again, it was all about Moses in his eyes. Yet, again, God makes this excuse void by bringing to Moses’ attention that God will put in Moses’ mouth what to say, not Moses himself (4:11-12). One would think that would be enough, yet Moses still feels unworthy and asks God to send someone else in his place (4:13). Even though God has shown him that it is God at work and not Moses, and that God gives him the power and the words to say, Moses is still making excuses in order to not do the Lord’s work. However,  all along God had made it clear that it is the God Almighty who had come down to deliver them (3:8), and it is the I AM who has sent Moses, not Moses himself (3:14). 

Looking at Moses can sure be an eye-opener. It was God who was working, in both deliverance and words spoken, it was never Moses. Thank the Lord that it is the same today! After all, Paul says, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of GOD for salvation to everyone who believes…” (Romans 1:16 emphasis added). The gospel is never about ME, it always has been and always will be about GOD, both in redemptive power and in words. All we have to do is speak it, the words given us in the scriptures, and let the power of God work in the hearts of men. We cannot give any excuses, no matter how illiterate or unworthy we feel. All we have to remember is that if God could work in a self-conscious man like Moses, He can also work in men and women like us today.