Worship Devotional LIX
Originally posted to the Facebook group on 2/5/2021.
Worship Devotional for 2/7/21
We have some good things in this life, some of which are really good, but they don't last forever, and nothing's easy. There are plenty of dark, evil, and sorrowful things in the world we live in as well. There is much to bring us pain and suffering and sorrow in this life, and even the good things come with hardship and heartache. Some days it seems the world is just continually crashing down around us, and existence feels pointless and too hard. Pain becomes unbearable, sorrow is overwhelming, and our sins and failures make us feel too far gone. Why endure? Why keep struggling? What are we fighting for anyway?
The world doesn't have an adequate answer for these questions. Those who choose to live their own way and reject God have nothing to keep them from the inevitable desolation and destruction that are coming to them. And neither do we if we have put our trust in our own efforts and in the pursuit of worldly gain. This world has nothing for us but lies and empty promises.
But that isn't who we are. So why do we do we press on through the darkness and the struggles? Why do we proclaim life and not death? It is because we have hope — not false hope in ourselves or in the world, but the true hope which is alive and eternal in Christ Jesus! For as the prophet said in Lamentations 3:19-26:
"Remember my affliction and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison. I continually remember them and have become depressed. Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The Lord is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good to wait quietly for deliverance from the Lord."
And the psalmist said in Psalm 42:10-11:
"My adversaries taunt me, as if crushing my bones, while all day long they say to me, 'Where is your God?' Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God."
Two weeks ago we sang about faith, and last week was about waiting on the Lord. This week is all about the hope we have in Jesus, the second out of the three things which 1 Corinthians 13:13 tells us remain forever. Whether you are battling depression right now or struggling with relationship matters or with finances or just with motivation in general or whatever it may be, if you are a believer in Christ, you have hope. No matter how hard things get, our hope remains true. We must hold fast to this hope and wait on the Lord, trusting and believing in His promises. In a world that is full of fear and dread for the future, may we raise our voice and speak hope and life into the despair that is felt by so many right now.
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."
Here are the songs:
1) Hope Has A Name by River Valley Worship
There are many worldly things that people often put their hope in, the names of which have no authority to deliver or fulfill that hope. But the hope we are singing about has a name which is true and eternal and carries all authority in heaven and on earth: the name of Jesus Christ. We don't sing about hope just for the sake of hope itself. Anyone can hope for something. When we sing about hope, we are singing about the only One in whom hope is true and sure, and His name is Jesus. He has won the victory over the grave, trampled death forever, and made a way for all who come to Him by faith to be saved and given eternal life! Hallelujah! Let us praise the holy name of Him who is our hope.
2) My Hope Is In You by April Geesbreght
Every day, all day long, we have hope no matter what our circumstances may be or what may come. He is with us, and He is our refuge in troubled times. Even when we don't understand why we are going through what we are or why certain things are happening, we still have hope. And as we pour out our hearts to God in prayer, He gives us a peace which surpasses understanding. We can joyfully praise Him in every circumstance as we wait for the fulfillment of His good promises.
Psalm 62:5-8:
"Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock. My refuge is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge."
3) You Keep Hope Alive by Jon Reddick
Those who put their hope in money, people, politics, possessions, kingdoms, or any other worldly thing may feel hopeful for a short time, but they will be disappointed and broken when those things fail and collapse. The false hope of the world will die. But our hope is not in things which are fading away. We have put our hope in the One who is eternal and true, and who has defeated death itself. He keeps our hope alive forever, because He is alive forever!
4) Living Hope by Phil Wickham
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."
Theme(s): Hope
Scripture references:
Psalms 25, 42-43, 62, 130
Lamentations 3:21-26
Romans 5:1-5
1 Corinthians 13:13, 15 (esp. vv. 12-28)
Philippians 4:4-8
Colossians 3:1-11
1 Thessalonians 1, 4:13-18, 5:1-11
Titus 2:11-14
Hebrews 6 (esp. v. 19), 10:19-25, 12:1-2
1 Peter 1 (esp. vv. 3-9 & 13)