While looking for something to meditate on this morning, I found some of these scriptures in Bagsters Devotional Sept 7. I asked myself “What kinda hope do I have”? Do I have a lively hope of being with Him in eternity. Or am I just miserable while carrying my cross and going through the fire,not remembering what Christ went through and how His resurrection sealed my hope and place me on a path towards Him. Each of us should know by His word that we are appointed to these things by God and should be praising Him and giving Him glory for the grace and mercy He has provided.
Again as I ask myself, I also ask each of you that say you believe to understand that the devil also believes and trembles (James 2:19). I turn to the old faithful verse that so many are using out of context (Jn 3:16). Read on down through to Jn 3:20-21 and you’ll see that if one truly believes in Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they will have a lively hope and forge forward toward that light with is God.
They will desire to meditate on His word to learn those truths (jn 3:21) that please this mighty King of kings and Lord of lords. Folks, this doesn’t mean just your Church responsibilities, no it means personal time each day you set aside to truly speak with God and study His word that these things might become manifested (visible & clear) in your lives. Take a look at these verses and meditate on them “John 3:20-21 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.”
The word truth in Jn 3:21 is defined in Strong’s as “the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians”.
So how can we know if that which one tells us or preaches to us is the truth, if we are not walking toward the light and are being made manifested in that light through the study of His word? The word light in Strong’s says “God is light because light has the extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality of truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it”. So take time to meditate in His word and then follow up with prayer. Martin Luther gave a good friend of his a model in his letter “A Simple Way to Pray”. Luther directed in this letter that we should warm the heart up through meditation in the word before we pray.
I hope as I review my life to see if my hope of being made manifested in Him, that each of you will do the same, because we aren’t all going to heaven as the song many sing “When We All Get To Heaven”. So my readers, remember John 3:16 isn’t a blank check that you cash in at the Gates of Glory, man has responsibilities to walk toward God/Christ (the Light of the world) and endure until the end(John 6:27) and being saved daily if we are truly His child until we enter into His Kingdom.
Next I will be studying up on why one just has Hope and is not always fully assured without a doubt. I became more enlightened on this subject this morning while discussing it with my pastor and friend Brother Barrett Holloway.
In Faith and Hope I write,
Larry Hatcher
hatcher@upwardway.com
www.upwardway.com
Scripture
2 Peter 1:10
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
John 6:27
Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.
1 Peter 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Rom. 12:12
Rejoicing in hope.
Col. 1:5
The hope which is laid up for you in heaven.
I Cor. 15:19
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Acts 14:22
We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.
Luke 14:27
Whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
I Thess. 3:3
No man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
Phil. 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
Rom. 15:13
The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
I Pet. 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
I Pet. 1:8
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Rom. 5:2
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.