Biblical Hope

Does it ever seem just too much? Does it seem the world has gone crazy; economically, politically, with floods and oil spills? If we are honest don’t we just want to scream out enough!

I have recently been reading a book called Engaging God’s World by Cornelius Plantinga Jr. and there is a chapter on longing and hoping. What I am getting from this is that as broken humans we will view things with a self centered bias; we can’t help it. And what we truly need is to view things with a Christ centered lens. Only then can we truly trust and hope.

In this book, Plantinga calls this hope, Biblical hope and says; “Biblical hope has a wide angle lens. It takes in whole nations and peoples. It brings into focus the entire created order – wolves and lambs, mountains, plains, rivers and valleys. When it is widest and longest, Biblical hope looks forward toward a whole “new heaven and new earth,” in which death, and mourning, and pain will have passed away (Rev 21:1,4), and in which the Son of god receives the treasures of nations who parade into the city of God (Rev 21:22-26).”

That really puts hope into perspective for me! My hope is too small and too scattered and as believers who trust in our God there is the greatest hope. So as believers, no matter what is going on in this world, we can trust that our sovereign God is on His throne overseeing all things. We can find peace and comfort and strength and hope. We just need corrective lenses to truly see and God loves us so much he has supplied just that lens in his word.

So as things build up, may we all turn to scriptures to bring our worldview into focus. That brings to mind Psalm 25:5 which says; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Abba Father, we pray for great hope in troubling times, we pray for gospel peace and gospel strength and gospel encouragement for all your people. We pray for those facing uncertainty from things such as floods and leaks and war and illness and economic turmoil praying for the greatest hope of all – Eternity with You! Amen and Amen.

Grace and Peace

Forsaken

I have often wondered about Matthew 27:46;

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"

I struggle with this verse, it pains me. I struggle with what it means; what are we supposed to get from this? I know theologians have pointed to this verse saying it provides a glimpse into the intensity of Christ’s suffering; I know they point to this verse as a fulfillment of prophecy (Psalm 22:1). However, I have this feeling deep down there must be more.

The definition of forsaken is a good place to start and I kind of blended several different sources to come up with my definition; forsaken means to renounce or turn away from entirely, to abandon, to go and leave, to leave stranded or isolated with little hope of rescue. So for our savior to cry out in this way just shakes me to my core!

I have trouble describing how this verse makes me feel. I understand that at times we may all feel a little “forsaken”, but this was a real physical and spiritual forsaken that our Lord was suffering through. Charles Spurgeon writes; “since even the thought that He has forsaken us gives us agony, what must the woe of the Savior have been when he exclaimed, My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Can you begin to feel the emotion of this verse; yet what are we to take from it?

Spurgeon helps here as well writing; “No man can enter into the full meaning of these words. Some of us think at times that we would cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” There are seasons when the brightness of our Father’s smile is eclipsed by clouds and darkness; but let us remember that God never does really forsake us.”

What a thought, that Christ suffered, was abandoned, renounced, stranded, and isolated with little hope of rescue; so that we as believers will never be! Amen and Amen. Christ was forsaken in order that we may never be forsaken. What hope we now have; no matter the circumstance, no matter the tragedy, no matter what!

Hebrews 13:5b tells us; because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

Abba Father, thank you for your Son who was forsaken so that we will never be forsaken. What a loving God you are and what a loving Savior we have forever and ever.

Grace and Peace!

A Guiding Prayer

Good and Gracious God,

In the Psalms you tell us; for this God is our God forever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end. Father, we praise you that you are our God for all time; you are our most high guide providing our path in this thing called life; providing our everything and all this despite our shortcomings, our many failures, our sinful natures. Father forgive us as we cry out with thanks!

Oh, how you must love us; what a wondrous and loving God you are and for that we say thank you.

Thank you for your son Jesus Christ; our Lord and Savior, the one, who restored our path; the one whose sacrifice makes forgiveness possible; thank you for your Spirit; our comforter and counselor; the one who helps us see your path. Thank you for laughter and fellowship; thank you for your Church that beacon of the only true and eternal hope and we pray that your church will continue to be ever expanding and ever glorifying; Thank you that we all have a place to praise you, to worship you and we pray that each of us will grow in our love for You, in our love for one another, that we will reach out to our neighbors in love and service.

This day we lift up our missionaries around the world that you would protect and provide as they spread the good news. We pray for safety, encouragement and that their gifts will be used to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ. We pray for our country as we face untold pressures, we pray that there would be a spiritual renewal; an awakening; and a turning to you for all things.

We pray for for those battling illness, we pray for healing and comfort and strength; for those facing economic troubles we pray for guidance, assistance and resolution; for those in despair we pray for encouragement and support and something we all need; Hope!

Lord, you are the God of Hope and that is our prayer for all. Praying as Paul did in Romans;

May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in him, so that we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lord, may we all overflow with hope!

We pray for so many things, but mostly we pray your will be done.

Abba Father we love you and pray these many things in the most holy name of Jesus. Amen

Grace and Peace!

Overwhelmed

Our Church is in the middle of a series on faith; working through Hebrews 11. We are looking at all the heroes of faith and their example. As Easter has been approaching I have been thinking a lot about what an example (the perfect example) we have in Christ.

Many times I get drawn to Matthew 26:36-39;

36Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." 37He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." 39Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

This passage has such an impact on me; I can’t seem to shake it. My Lord and Savior is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. I’ve often wondered what this really means; was He overwhelmed knowing the pain and torture; was he overwhelmed knowing the denial He was about to face; was He overwhelmed by the prospect of some type of separation from God; was He overwhelmed for each of us? I think it is some combination of all and even more.

And what an example he provided. By faith he prayed for the cup to be taken; by faith (and this is remarkable to me) He prayed “Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Trusting God’s plan no matter what; knowing all things are for the good of those that love Him!

I just get overwhelmed to the point of shouting; Hallelujah! This Easter I was struct by a lyric from a Chris Tomlin song; I Will Rise. In this song Chris sings that Jesus has overwhelmed the grave. I linked these two overwhelms together and was in awe. Going from overwhelmed by sorrow to overwhelming the grave for each of us.

Psalm 65 tells us;

3 When we were overwhelmed by sins, you forgave our transgressions.

Easter means so much to me, knowing no matter how overwhelmed by sin I am; Christ loves me and sacrificed His all for me; He forgives me with open arms. That is just so overwhelming! Amen – Happy Easter All…He is risen!

Grace and Peace!