Hope for Tomorrow

 

If the Gospel of Christ is not true, then there is no forgiveness or reconciliation for our sins and we have no resurrection to look forward to. We have no joy for our current life or for the next, and there is no expectation of living in the Father's house in the future (Romans 10:9; I Corinthians 15:17-19; John 14:1-2, 12). Life without Christ is a life without hope.

There are countless people experiencing depression and mid-life insecurities because they place their hope in our culture, a bank account, a philosophy, their employment or worldly religions. This house of cards is shaky at best, and the ensuing insecurity drives people insane, gives them heart attacks or destroys their relationships.

However, the Gospel of Christ is gloriously true. Jesus suffered and died to set us free from Satan, the flesh, sin and death. We now have hope for tomorrow. As we walk in the light of God's Truth, we have no fear of darkness or evil, because Christ in the authentic Believer overcame Satan and evil on Calvary's cross. Even negative aspects of life now work out for our good (Romans 8:28).

A life based on God's Word has a stable and firm foundation (2 Timothy 2:19). As we walk by the direction and power of God's Spirit, we will not fulfill the dictates of the devil or the flesh, but we will luxuriate in the continual blessings of God (Galatians 5:15-26). As we focus on His plans for our life with a pure heart, He uses us according to His will (Psalm 51:10; Ephesians 2:10).

Prayer:

Father God, thank You for giving us the opportunity to live in Christ and to become a new creation. We rejoice that our old habits, sins, negative emotions and personality are made new by Your Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17). When we trust You with our life, You destroy the deprivation, which devastated us and You mature us in the likeness of Your Son (Romans 8:29). Thank You for claiming us as Your own and for making it possible for us to spend eternity with You.

Thought for the Day:

Therefore, even when we are simply eating or drinking, or whatever we decide God wants us to do, we do it all for His glory.

- 1 Corinthians 10:31

Convenience or Commitment?

Read: Psalm 119:2-8

“I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.” – Jeremiah 24:7

So many people love to hear the direct teaching of the Word of God; and yet, decide they do not want to follow its principles. They flock to church on Sunday morning by the thousands; yet give God nothing more than lip service on Sunday night or the rest of the week. They love to sit in the presence of God’s truth, but not to walk in it on a daily basis.

People in Biblical days had this same attitude. The people in Isaiah’s day drew near to God and honored Him with their lips, but their hearts were far from the Lord (Isaiah 29:13). Governor Felix listened to Paul, and was almost convinced; but at the last minute he decided it wasn’t convenient for him to commit to Christ (Acts 24:24-25). Herod liked to listen to John the Baptist’s uncompromising message of repentance; and yet he failed to act on what he heard. Pilate met Jesus face-to-face and knew He spoke the truth; yet he turned Jesus over to the Jews anyway.

We live in a world full of religious freedom, with daily access to Bible teachings in churches, on the radio and even on television; yet, we still fail to act on what we hear. Our worship bounces off the ceiling of our churches because we do not have clean hands and pure hearts (Psalm 24:4).

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, place in us the desire to long for Your presence and to walk in obedience to Your Word each moment of every day.

Thought for the Day:

God is not our servant to do our bidding at our covenience, but our Master whom we follow in committed service.