Worship Devotional CVIII

Feb 5

Originally posted to the Facebook group on 2/5/2022.

Hope

Worship Devotional for 2/6/22

The word "hope" has tragically become associated with mere wishful thinking in today's culture. Those who have no faith, who live in the darkness of their arrogance with nothing real to hold onto, scoff and say that those of us who hold onto hope are the ones not grounded in reality. But on the contrary, as reality unfolds and the things of the future come into the present, those who denied hope are the ones who are taken by surprise and are swept away, while those who held fast to hope not only stand, but receive what was to come with great joy.

Another word that brings the reality of hope and what it really means into view is the word "expect." To expect something is to really believe that it will come or happen. In all our recent talking and singing about faith and waiting on the Lord, there is a great reminder for us of what it really means to hold fast to the hope we have in Christ. We wait for His coming with great expectation that He will indeed do exactly as He promised, for we remember that our God is always true and faithful! Knowing He is faithful, sovereign, and good gives us assurance that His promises are guaranteed and certain. How can we not hold fast to hope in everything, no matter what darkness we must face or what trials we must go through in this life while we wait? Our hope in Jesus is sure and steadfast, never failing.

Now we have this hope as believers who here on the earth for a short time. The world around us is full of people who are desperately searching for hope as the nations rage in turmoil and the systems of man which we so often rely on begin to crumble or collapse altogether. People need to hear of the hope that we have. They need to hear of a hope that is sure and grounded in the promise of One who is faithful. They need to hear of a hope that is eternal, that remains even in the face of death. They need to hear of a hope that can not only carry them through any hardship, but that transforms and renews their very souls. This is the hope of the gospel, and it gives freedom and life to those who hold onto it by faith.

Jude 20-25 tells us:

"But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, expecting the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. Have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
Now to Him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of His glory, blameless and with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen."

Now this hope that we have for the future, this expectation for the Lord's coming, is not only for the future. It affects and shapes and influences our lives presently as well, because it is not dormant or inanimate. Instead, we read this declaration in 1 Peter 1:3-4:

"Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

Did you catch that? We have been given a living hope through the resurrection of Christ. So what does that mean? It means that death cannot stop the hope that we have. We have a hope that is for both this life and for the life to come. Death has no more power to change to alter it. This is the kind of hope that we have. This is the kind of hope that will carry us through to ultimate, eternal victory in Christ, for He is the One who has claimed this victory and who allows us to share in it by His death and resurrection! This is the kind of hope that the world needs. It is a hope that shines in darkness with the light of Christ to guide those who by faith have opened the eyes of their hearts to see the truth, until we arrive home in glory at last. As a church that goes by the name "Lighthouse," this true and living hope is the light that we shine forth to this city and to the nations!

Hebrews 10:19-25:

"Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way He has opened for us through the curtain (that is, His flesh), and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near."

Songs: