History Gives Hope!
Devotions this week based on Sunday’s Message: Hope is the Heart of Christmas! (LISTEN HERE)
Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
History gives hope.
A cancer patient has hope because history has shown that 80% of people with that type of cancer will go into remission.
A person struggling financially because 90% of people with their skill set are gainfully employed.
A student wrestling with grades realizes that many millionaires never had above a “C” average in school.
History gives hope.
In our secular world, we look at historical percentages. How many people…? (Fill in the blank). If a high percentage of people in the past have had a positive outcome, we have hope that we will have that same positive outcome.
History gives hope.
In this verse from the Apostle Paul, he too realizes that not only does history provide hope, but God’s story, God’s history gives hope.
How so? The stories of Scripture, the people named, and the situations in which they found themselves are all recorded to underscore the faithfulness, power, and ability of God almighty to deliver hope to his people.
Consider Abraham…promised to be the Father of great nations, yet did not have a son. God fixed that with a miracle birth to Sarah.
Consider Joseph…sold into slavery away from his family, yet God orchestrated events so he would be second in command of all Egypt to preserve the lives of many people.
Consider Israel traveling to Babylon as a consequence for sin, yet God did not abandon them, but allowed them to return to rebuild the city and temple in Jerusalem.
Consider God’s chosen people to whom a Messiah was promised, and to whom God fulfilled that promise in Jesus.
The list could go on. Why did the Spirit of God choose to record all these people, stories, and conversations?
So we could have hope.
How so?
In the lives of the real people, in real situations, in a real moment in time God’s promises were shown to be real, his power revealed to be present, and his love remaining always faithful.
The accounts of past events give us true and certain hope that the unchanging God in whom we trust will encourage us and give us endurance when we need it in the moment in time in which we live.
History, God’s story, gives us hope.
Apply: Which Bible story gives you hope and encouragement when hope seem absent or distant?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for never leaving your people without hope. Thank you for recording the events of people and the hope you gave them so we might receive encouragement from them. AMEN.
Are you getting a good deal today?
I love a good deal.
A well-known financial guru once said, “Never pay full price.”
Black Friday is a day of deals. Admittedly, they are much easier to get as you can sit behind your computer screen and click “Add to Cart” pretty easily. It is much different from the era of getting up at 4-5am and getting in line at the store with the deal you wanted, rushing to the spot to grab the item and then trying to get checked out so you could get to the next store that opened before it opened.
I love a good deal.
But one thing that still sits oddly in juxtaposition to Thanksgiving is Black Friday.
Why?
It seems to me that as soon as we are done giving thanks for what we have been given, advertisers are there to make us discontent with what we have. In the days of newspaper advertising, the Thanksgiving paper was THE biggest to deliver, sometimes taking two loads because it was stuffed with advertisements.
Where is your heart this morning?
If you are up early getting the “good deals” – as I said, “I love a good deal.” Nothing wrong with a good deal. However, where is your heart this morning?
Are the thoughts of Thanksgiving a distant memory? Is your heart feeling pressured to buy something that maybe you don’t need, but it is a good deal? Or is your heart feeling discontent with what you were grateful for yesterday, and needing more today?
I don’t mean to spoil your Black Friday deals, but I am sharing what my heart needs, and what I’m guessing your heart could benefit from as well.
Learn gratitude and contentment…every day.
Philippians 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Contentment is realizing the Lord has provided what I need for today.
Contentment is a condition of the heart that trusts in the Lord, not in material things.
Contentment is knowing my biggest problem in life is taken care of by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Contentment is shopping for a good deal to be a good steward of God’s gifts without allowing that item to cause sadness or joy if I get it or not.
Contentment allows me to be generous in giving to the Lord and others, because my security is not in my stuff.
Contentment flows from a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving.
Contentment realizes the LORD is good and his mercy endures forever…and lives each day in that reality.
So enjoy whatever activity you have planned today…even if it getting up early and standing in line to get a deal. However, don’t let the heart of Thanksgiving leave you for a heart of discontent, rather let the heart of Thanksgiving and gratitude give you always a heart of contentment.
Apply: Don’t just pay attention to the deals today, pay attention to your heart and where it’s focus is resting.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for all things. Lead us to live each day with a heart of gratitude, generosity and contentment. AMEN.
A Thanksgiving Reflection
A Thanksgiving Poem
(This poem/prayer was penned by Nadine Flowers, a friend of members Ralph & Mildred Dickson)
Thanksgiving is more than just one day, a certain time of year.
It’s God’s command of gratitude; It’s what he wants to hear.
Thanksgiving should come from deep within
A heart of love that never ends.
A spontaneous, grateful heart.
That acknowledges God for all he has done.
For his mercy and grace, his unfailing love
For daily provision and all the things, we’re not worthy of.
Being grateful, thankful, every day.
Honoring God in all our ways.
Putting him first as we plan our day.
Realizing he’s worthy of our honor and praise.
True thankfulness comes when we truly know God.
Recognizing his goodness as he lives in our hearts.
Remembering what he has done in our lives.
He provides, he sustains, he comforts, he guides.
So enjoy the turkey, the stuffing and pie.
It all comes from God, the giver of life.
A blessed and happy Thanksgiving Day to you all!
“O give thanks to the Lord for he is GOOD and his love endures forever!”
Love as You have been Loved!
Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 10 of “Fan or Follower – Finish Strong!” (CLICK HERE).
James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.
Accounts like this from James 2 and Matthew 25 (yesterday’s lesson) make us nervous and seem to contradict the clear conviction that we have that our salvation rests 100% on the back of Jesus’ perfect life, innocent death and glorious resurrection.
So, when Jesus returns and makes mention of the works of believers or the lack of works of unbelievers is there a component that we must fulfill to earn a spot in heaven.
Let me put it this way.
If you are alive, you will breathe.
If you are alive, your heart will beat.
If you are alive, your brain will function.
If someone seems to not be alive, there will be attempts to see if they are breathing. Someone will try to take the pulse. Monitors will measure brain activity.
Life has evidence.
It would be ridiculous to say that someone is alive when their heart is not beating, their lungs not breathing and their brain not functioning.
If someone would challenge and say, “All you have to do is say you are alive.” Someone might say, “Saying their alive is ok, but I will show life by what the body is doing.”
Perhaps this isn’t a perfect analogy, but the activities of the body indicate that there is life.
So the works of the believer show evidence that faith is alive. Works don’t create the faith. Works give evidence of the faith that God has worked in their hearts.
When a heart of an individual is touched and changed by the love of God, it is only natural for that life to exhibit the love of God in dealings with others.
The Apostle John reflects this in 1 John 4:11-12:
1 John 4:11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
What is noticeable in Jesus’ speaking of the last judgment is the believer asks, “When did I see you…?” because the believer is simply living out the love of God, not living to get credits before God.
Living a life of love is simply what ones who have been touched by the love of God do.
And Jesus notices.
Apply: Living a life of love starts with being filled with the love of Jesus. How is your “love tank” from Jesus? How can you ensure that stays full so that it overflows to others?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for loving me. May my love for others always reflect the love you have shown to me. AMEN.
Today’s devotion builds on the thoughts from Sunday’s Sermon – Week 10 of “Fan or Follower – Finish Strong!” (CLICK HERE).
Matthew 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
What are you doing today? Perhaps just two days away from Thanksgiving, your day is filled with wrapping up tasks at work, stopping by the store for meal items, or getting ready to travel to visit family. Each of these tasks takes preparation and effort to be ready…getting your work done, planning your meal, or thinking through what you need while you are gone. Yet, we do what is needed to be ready for the day ahead.
But what would happen if Jesus showed up in the sky in all his glory?
How would you react?
“Jesus! Wow, I didn’t expect you today. I didn’t think you’d be back for a long time yet.”
“Jesus! Is that really you? I figured I had time to get my life straightened out.”
“Jesus! This can’t be real. The Bible is just a fairy tale.
“Jesus! I’ve been hoping today would be the day for a long time!”
Not sure how you would react? The prophet Daniel gives us a little more description of the day:
Daniel 7:9 “As I looked, “thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze.
10 A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated, and the books were opened.
What would you be thinking at “the books” were opened?
Would your name be in there? What would be noted next to it? Would “the court” determine you could come to heaven or would the judgment be much more severe?
Standing before the Son of Man with an open book is terrifying if I don’t know what is in the book.
But what if I did?
Jesus gives an insight to what options are in the book.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
The group on Jesus’ right had hearts of faith in him that lives that were lived for him. They were lives not lived to create “check marks” of faith, but one’s that simply flowed from a heart of faith. Those on Jesus’ right simply lived a life of love in the shadow of God’s love shown to them. When they saw someone to serve, they served them. The king recognized hearts of faith living lives of faith in love to those around.
More tomorrow…but for today, be connected to your Savior and let his love live in you and through you…and if Jesus comes today…great!
Apply: What opportunities do I have to show the love of Jesus to people around me today?
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for promising to return and helping me be prepared. Keep me close to your love and focused on showing your love each and every day! AMEN.