Finding Hope

If Christ is our hope, what great hope it is indeed. The hope of forgiveness, deliverance, and a brighter day, a new heaven, and a new earth. Scripture teaches that all those found on its pages, died longing for the same hope we do. We read, “These all died by way of faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off. And they were persuaded of them and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Hebrews 11:13 MKJV) Our challenge today, like theirs, is to completely “embrace” our hope, and to live “fully persuaded.” Scripture teaches that the sin which so easily besets us, is doubt and fear. These are overcome but by one thing, and one thing alone, time each day with Christ! It is in those private and intimate moments each day that He reassures us. When we try to live apart from intimacy with Christ, our faith becomes an arduous exercise, something that serves in many ways to be self-defeating, this as we are forced to humanly exert ourselves contrary to nature, to believe . However, when one lives intimately with Christ, like a child who is sent off to school each day by his or her mom, they find new comfort and assurance in knowing they are loved, cared for, and that there is a place called home upon which to return. We must remember for a child, the moments getting ready for school, are as, if not more important, than the events of the day itself. Having a mom and dad, a home, and the love it represents are the very things that get our young ones through the day and the same is true of us as Gods children. Let God get you ready for the day, by spending time with Him before you set out, let Him reassure you that you are loved, cared for, and that there is a home to go to when this journey is over and you will find it much easier to fully embrace your faith and live victoriously fully persuaded!

Rev. Joel M McDuffie Jr.

7/11/2016