Together # 59
A Together for Perseverance
A Together for Perseverance
Preserve One Another's Hope
copyright by Dick Wulf, 2018
Keep each other's hope in God high. When bad times threaten hope, reassure others of God's sovereignty, His steadfast love, His past deliverances and His wonderful plans for the future.
Isa 40:30-31; Rom 15:4; 2 Cor 3:12; Eph 4:4; Col 1:22-23; 1 Thess 1:3;
1 Tim 4:10; 1 Tim 6:17; Titus 2:11-14; Heb 3:6; Heb 10:23; 1 Peter 1:13
1 Tim 4:10; 1 Tim 6:17; Titus 2:11-14; Heb 3:6; Heb 10:23; 1 Peter 1:13
There is a problem with understanding the hope most often mentioned in the Bible. It is not used the way we normally use it.
Now, we say that we hope tomorrow will be a sunny day or we hope to make a good profit on the sale of something. This is not the kind of hope that we are called as Christians to help one another preserve. Dictionary.com defines hope as “to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence”. And, that is what we usually mean when we use the word “hope”.
But, to focus on our life in Christ and the hope that, along with faith and love, lasts forever (1 Cor 13:13), we have to use the definition at dictionary.com that reads: “Archaic: to place trust; rely (usually followed by in)”. This means that in the past the word “hope” also meant to place trust and rely in something, or in our case, Someone.
The Christian’s hope is this “certain” hope in God’s character, which includes His promises.
Even this hope of believers is guaranteed by God’s love and adoption of us into His family, hope wavers at times during the Christian journey. Bad times threaten hope. So, God commands Christians to keep each other's hope high.
Now, we say that we hope tomorrow will be a sunny day or we hope to make a good profit on the sale of something. This is not the kind of hope that we are called as Christians to help one another preserve. Dictionary.com defines hope as “to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence”. And, that is what we usually mean when we use the word “hope”.
But, to focus on our life in Christ and the hope that, along with faith and love, lasts forever (1 Cor 13:13), we have to use the definition at dictionary.com that reads: “Archaic: to place trust; rely (usually followed by in)”. This means that in the past the word “hope” also meant to place trust and rely in something, or in our case, Someone.
The Christian’s hope is this “certain” hope in God’s character, which includes His promises.
Even this hope of believers is guaranteed by God’s love and adoption of us into His family, hope wavers at times during the Christian journey. Bad times threaten hope. So, God commands Christians to keep each other's hope high.
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,
for he who promised is faithful.
Heb 10:23
for he who promised is faithful.
Heb 10:23
It is not “if” but “when” difficulties and trials strike that every Christian will struggle with hope. At first there is usually discouragement. Then the situation is turned over to the Lord. But, when trials do not disappear within a short period of time, hope can begin to disappear.
First and foremost, God is our hope. We hope in the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
First and foremost, God is our hope. We hope in the triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.
Psalm 39:7
Through him you believe in God,
who raised him from the dead and glorified him,
and so your faith and hope are in God.
1 Peter 1:21
My hope is in you.
Psalm 39:7
Through him you believe in God,
who raised him from the dead and glorified him,
and so your faith and hope are in God.
1 Peter 1:21
Jesus is God. Therefore, He also is our hope.
. . . Christ Jesus our hope, . . .
1 Tim 1:1
1 Tim 1:1
The Holy Spirit, the third Person of our one God, produces hope in us.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace
as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rom 15:13
as you trust in him,
so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rom 15:13
So that is where our hope comes from and who it is in – God in three persons, Blessed Trinity.
Our hope is to be place in no one or nothing else – not our savings account or our own skill and effort.
Our hope is to be place in no one or nothing else – not our savings account or our own skill and effort.
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant
nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain,
but to put their hope in God,
who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
1 Tim 6:17
nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain,
but to put their hope in God,
who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.
1 Tim 6:17
Within church congregations, this process of helping one another’s hope in God become and remain strong is usually not possible at the personal level. Except in the most drastic tragedies, people do not have those kind of conversations that signal hope and trust in God is failing.
Fortunately, faltering hope can be recognized and needed help offered in the frequent contact of closer relationships. Christian friendships, families and marriages are where most of the trials of a person’s life should be noticed and hope evaluated.
The people of God are to hope together. As with almost everything of faith, we are to live hope with one another. So, we hold unswervingly to the hope we profess together. The following verse, Colossians 1:27, is in the Greek plural. Jesus living in us together, not separately, is the hope of an indescribable, everlasting, glorious life.
Fortunately, faltering hope can be recognized and needed help offered in the frequent contact of closer relationships. Christian friendships, families and marriages are where most of the trials of a person’s life should be noticed and hope evaluated.
The people of God are to hope together. As with almost everything of faith, we are to live hope with one another. So, we hold unswervingly to the hope we profess together. The following verse, Colossians 1:27, is in the Greek plural. Jesus living in us together, not separately, is the hope of an indescribable, everlasting, glorious life.
Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Col 1:27
Col 1:27
What is needed is for Christian friendships, families and marriages to always be on the watch when someone has to deal with something hard. To illustrate, it is not wise to wait to help a drowning person until they disappear under the water. Action should be taken when we see a swimmer might be having trouble. Then is the time to get in the water and swim near to them just in case. It is the same with hope. We should not wait until someone becomes despondent and is losing hope. Whenever someone in our Christian inner circle faces difficult situations, we need to be expressing trust in God and helping to keep their hope high.
First, we should have frequent contact with those Christians in our inner circle to know when they are facing something difficult. Second, when hard things come their way, we must be more in touch with them, watching to see if their hope dwindles. Third, we should express our own hope in God and His promises for them, even before their hope starts to grow cold.
Sharing our hope for them needs to be done without giving the impression that they need to fake hope. It is important that everyone acknowledges that faith and trust in God and His promises will get weak at times. Disappointment and despair should not be hidden from one another so that together hope can be preserved.
Honest discussions of trials should occur openly in Christian friendships and families. Most all of us have committed stupid sins and faced the terrible consequences. Our friends and family members can help us know that there is hope, that there is light at the end of a time of darkness, that there is forgiveness in Christ and a new beginning, and that the Lord really does help us to prevail through the most difficult circumstances. Those with incurable illnesses can slowly and tenderly be helped to look toward heaven when they will be released from their sickness. They are helped in their hope by friends and family members who tenderly share in their hurt, but not their hopelessness. Personal concern leads to the search for scriptural passages which will restore hope, passages tailored to the situation.
The truth is that God gives us situations so that our hope will waiver. This is the way hope grows. Muscles get stronger with just a little more exercise than is normal, and hope grows when trials stretch it. Therefore, struggle is necessary and will surely come. When it does, it turns into stronger faith, especially when other Christians get involved.
First, we should have frequent contact with those Christians in our inner circle to know when they are facing something difficult. Second, when hard things come their way, we must be more in touch with them, watching to see if their hope dwindles. Third, we should express our own hope in God and His promises for them, even before their hope starts to grow cold.
Sharing our hope for them needs to be done without giving the impression that they need to fake hope. It is important that everyone acknowledges that faith and trust in God and His promises will get weak at times. Disappointment and despair should not be hidden from one another so that together hope can be preserved.
Honest discussions of trials should occur openly in Christian friendships and families. Most all of us have committed stupid sins and faced the terrible consequences. Our friends and family members can help us know that there is hope, that there is light at the end of a time of darkness, that there is forgiveness in Christ and a new beginning, and that the Lord really does help us to prevail through the most difficult circumstances. Those with incurable illnesses can slowly and tenderly be helped to look toward heaven when they will be released from their sickness. They are helped in their hope by friends and family members who tenderly share in their hurt, but not their hopelessness. Personal concern leads to the search for scriptural passages which will restore hope, passages tailored to the situation.
The truth is that God gives us situations so that our hope will waiver. This is the way hope grows. Muscles get stronger with just a little more exercise than is normal, and hope grows when trials stretch it. Therefore, struggle is necessary and will surely come. When it does, it turns into stronger faith, especially when other Christians get involved.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work so that you
may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
whenever you face trials of many kinds,
because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance.
Perseverance must finish its work so that you
may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
In our time and culture, we Christians need to steer one another toward that “archaic hope” that is hope in certain things. And the only certain thing is God, His character and His promises.
The whole Bible is God speaking to us so that we can hope for a relationship with Him and His divine promises. Our hope is for salvation and forgiveness for our sins that brings regeneration. Our hope is to be new creatures in Christ who will now and throughout eternal life have a personal relationship with God.
Many of God’s promises that carry us through tough times and suffering will be fulfilled later, especially after death and we find ourselves in heaven. Therefore, the poor Christian, of which there are very many worldwide, will not become rich in life before death. But she or he can have absolute hope that she or he will be rich in the life after death that goes on forever.
For a start, consider these few of many verses about biblical hope.
The whole Bible is God speaking to us so that we can hope for a relationship with Him and His divine promises. Our hope is for salvation and forgiveness for our sins that brings regeneration. Our hope is to be new creatures in Christ who will now and throughout eternal life have a personal relationship with God.
Many of God’s promises that carry us through tough times and suffering will be fulfilled later, especially after death and we find ourselves in heaven. Therefore, the poor Christian, of which there are very many worldwide, will not become rich in life before death. But she or he can have absolute hope that she or he will be rich in the life after death that goes on forever.
For a start, consider these few of many verses about biblical hope.
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of
the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness
and to purify for himself a people that are his very own,
eager to do what is good.
Titus 2:11-14
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,
set your hope on the grace to be brought to you
when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.
1 Peter 1:13
. . . in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie,
promised before the beginning of time, . . .
Titus 1:2
. . . so that, having been justified by his grace,
we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:7
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions,
and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,
while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of
the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness
and to purify for himself a people that are his very own,
eager to do what is good.
Titus 2:11-14
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,
set your hope on the grace to be brought to you
when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.
1 Peter 1:13
. . . in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie,
promised before the beginning of time, . . .
Titus 1:2
. . . so that, having been justified by his grace,
we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:7
But, since hope is eternal, we can hope in God for things in heaven.
If only for this life we have hope in Christ,
we are of all people most to be pitied.
1 Cor 15:19
we are of all people most to be pitied.
1 Cor 15:19
Since hope does not stop once we get to heaven, there will evidently be never-ending brand new things to hope for once we get to heaven. The following verse indicates that we are called to hope for the riches in eternal life that we will inherit as children of God.
. . . that you may know the hope to which he has called you,
the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,
and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Eph 1:18-19
the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,
and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
Eph 1:18-19
God finds joy in surprising us. In heaven we will hope for one sure amazement after another. For example, in heaven we will have hope for more righteousness than just being without sin.
For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith
the righteousness for which we hope.
Gal 5:5
the righteousness for which we hope.
Gal 5:5
Is it hard to understand that our righteousness might grow in heaven? If we think of righteousness as only being without sin, then this might be hard to understand. Imagine that we pour a glass of purified water. Is that the extent of the purity? Cannot we had a little non-sinful, untainted lemon to the water? That is how in heaven we are going to be able to add to our righteousness. Certainly in heaven more will be revealed about the character of Jesus Christ. As things are revealed to us little by little, we will be conformed to Him in that new way and our righteousness will grow.
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
Opportunity to Become More and More Like Jesus Christ
When Seth met Janet at a Bible study and they dated, he hoped that God would let him marry her. When Janet broke off the relationship, Seth became discouraged. Since he had always had trouble meeting women, his hope that he would ever get married began to disappear. He told those close to him, “I will probably not ever meet a woman who will marry me.”
Naturally, Seth’s sisters reassured him that he would eventually find someone who would appreciate him like they did. This helped a little. But the impact was minimal because it was expected that his sisters would say such things. His two best Christian friends had more power to build Seth’s hope back up. They brought it back to God rather then Seth’s social skills. They suggested he put his hope in God for whether or not he would marry. Then, the three of them decided to pray together weekly for a year, each time including a request that God provide a wife for Seth. Sometime during that year the three of them heard back from God who suggested that Seth organize a camping trip for the single adults group of his church. A happy ending surprised Seth, his friends, and his sisters when someone brought her cousin along on the camping trip. This woman needed a lot of help to learn how to camp safely, and Seth was available. They married a year later. None of those involved realized that the Holy Spirit was creating in all of them more hope in God. By helping them become a little more like Jesus, the Spirit was also getting them ready for the greater hope needed for all the challenges yet to come. |
We can see in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John that Jesus always had his hope in His Father. It was a certainty that things would go just as God determined them.
Preserving one another’s hope through our more focused Christian relationships will help us to become increasingly like Jesus. Difficult situations will come and go, and each time will be a chance to have our hope grow stronger with one another’s help.
Hope will not deepen if we individually just wait out difficulties. Time can certainly heal because God will take care of us. But, if we just “tough it out”, hope will not grow much.
However, when we intentionally watch carefully over one another and help one another preserve hope, both the one under trial and those helping to keep hope strong will grow in hope. The one with diminishing hope will see his or her hope grow by the expressions of hope provided, most likely with scriptures. Additionally, those seeking to build another’s hope will be challenged to have deeper hope themselves.
Let’s not waste the difficulties we face by just waiting for them to go away. Let’s immediately put our hope in God to fulfill His promise to watch out for us. In this way, hope will grow and we will become more like Jesus.
Opportunity to Worship God
Preserving one another’s hope through our more focused Christian relationships will help us to become increasingly like Jesus. Difficult situations will come and go, and each time will be a chance to have our hope grow stronger with one another’s help.
Hope will not deepen if we individually just wait out difficulties. Time can certainly heal because God will take care of us. But, if we just “tough it out”, hope will not grow much.
However, when we intentionally watch carefully over one another and help one another preserve hope, both the one under trial and those helping to keep hope strong will grow in hope. The one with diminishing hope will see his or her hope grow by the expressions of hope provided, most likely with scriptures. Additionally, those seeking to build another’s hope will be challenged to have deeper hope themselves.
Let’s not waste the difficulties we face by just waiting for them to go away. Let’s immediately put our hope in God to fulfill His promise to watch out for us. In this way, hope will grow and we will become more like Jesus.
Opportunity to Worship God
Carl and Max go to the same church and have just become friends. Max has noticed that Carl always says the right Christian things. Yet, Max hears Carl’s fears that he will not be able to save up enough money for retirement. Carl’s hope in God’s provision for the future is not as strong as the certainty in his voice about God’s sovereignty and love.
Max realizes that to state a belief about God, yet not truly believe it, is denying God’s worth. He knows that worship is ascribing worth to God, and that means behaving as if God’s character is true, even in spite of difficult circumstances. Max asked Carl last Saturday while hiking if Carl knew he was not truly trusting God for his future. Eventually, Max suggested that Carl trust God, not just speak doctrinal statements – to not just know about the truth but actually believe it. |
Hope is worship because it honors God by believing who He is as well as believing His promises. God has given us the necessary knowledge, faith and hope in these close relationships to preserve one another's hope. When we do so, we worship God by reflecting back to Him our belief in his many qualities, including his sovereignty, omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience and his pure, loving character. And, we are trusting in His promises, that He will be honorable and do what He has said He will do. By helping one another maintain strong hope, we make sure God is trusted by our Christian friends, family members and spouses.
In large church services and fellowships, we have trouble seeing when another’s hope needs to be strengthened. Not only is conversation simple, but people can just be saying the things Christians are expected to say. People in these larger meetings do not want their failing hope to be part of church gossip, not even under the guise of prayer. So, many fake strong hope and trust in God.
But, Christians generally trust one or more friends or family members. Enough interaction has occurred over time to allow the testing of discretion. In these more intimate and honest conversations, Christians can more correctly read between the lines and spot diminishing hope. They can step in with the power of their relationship and restore hope by helping hope to be in who God is and what He has promised. In this way, they make sure that their friend, family member or spouse is worshiping God by trusting Him with sure hope.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
In large church services and fellowships, we have trouble seeing when another’s hope needs to be strengthened. Not only is conversation simple, but people can just be saying the things Christians are expected to say. People in these larger meetings do not want their failing hope to be part of church gossip, not even under the guise of prayer. So, many fake strong hope and trust in God.
But, Christians generally trust one or more friends or family members. Enough interaction has occurred over time to allow the testing of discretion. In these more intimate and honest conversations, Christians can more correctly read between the lines and spot diminishing hope. They can step in with the power of their relationship and restore hope by helping hope to be in who God is and what He has promised. In this way, they make sure that their friend, family member or spouse is worshiping God by trusting Him with sure hope.
How Used in Battle to Defeat Evil and Satan
Al and Bernice Stockton have been teaching their kids that everyone has a responsibility to keep one another’s hope high. They have warned their kids that the devil has sown evil into the world. They have also explained that God put difficulty into the world after Adam and Eve sinned. Therefore, they have instilled in their children that God has given them a redeemed life that is capable of being hopeful no matter what difficulties they face.
The Stocktons have a family night every week. Once a month this meeting is centered on fun and lasts much longer. But, to help one another live for God and deal with life successfully, they make sure to meet every week. One thing they do each week is find out if anyone is getting discouraged about anything. Then they help restore hope by reassuring them of God’s love, protection and provision as well as remembering that they are on the way to heaven. |
The devil loves to discourage us and get us to doubt God. We saw this in the Garden of Eden when he sowed doubt into sinless Eve.
Now the serpent was more crafty
than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman,
“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
Genesis 3:1
than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.
He said to the woman,
“Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
Genesis 3:1
When difficulty and trial strikes, many Christians feel something has gone terribly wrong. But when we realize that trials are part of God's plan for re-designing us into Christ's image (as well as the inevitable result of living on a sinful planet), then our hope returns. But if trials do not disappear within a short period of time, the second wave of despair can hit and Christian hope wanes.
We are to keep each other's hope alive by continually reassuring one another of God's steadfast love and past deliverance, as well as His future plans for us. To prepare for this battle with the devil, we need to become very familiar with God’s promises.
We can see that God allows Satan to give us tremendous trials by looking at the life of Job. Remember that God said this about Job in addressing Satan: “There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Then, for His own purposes, God gave the devil permission to do the most horrible things to Job. How does this fit with hope?
We are to keep each other's hope alive by continually reassuring one another of God's steadfast love and past deliverance, as well as His future plans for us. To prepare for this battle with the devil, we need to become very familiar with God’s promises.
We can see that God allows Satan to give us tremendous trials by looking at the life of Job. Remember that God said this about Job in addressing Satan: “There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Then, for His own purposes, God gave the devil permission to do the most horrible things to Job. How does this fit with hope?
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?
There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright,
a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied.
“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?
You have blessed the work of his hands,
so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.
But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has,
and he will surely curse you to your face.”
The Lord said to Satan,
“Very well, then, everything he has is in your power,
but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Job 1:8-12
There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright,
a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied.
“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has?
You have blessed the work of his hands,
so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.
But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has,
and he will surely curse you to your face.”
The Lord said to Satan,
“Very well, then, everything he has is in your power,
but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Job 1:8-12
Then, later, after losing all of his livestock, wealth and, most horrible, all of his children, Job stayed true to God because his hope was in God who is loving and cannot do anything wrong or evil.
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head.
Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 1:21-22
Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
may the name of the Lord be praised.”
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Job 1:21-22
Then, shockingly, God let it go on longer.
Then the Lord said to Satan,
“Have you considered my servant Job?
There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright,
a man who fears God and shuns evil.
And he still maintains his integrity,
though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”
“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life.
But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones,
and he will surely curse you to your face.”
The Lord said to Satan,
“Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”
Job 2:3-6
“Have you considered my servant Job?
There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright,
a man who fears God and shuns evil.
And he still maintains his integrity,
though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”
“Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life.
But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones,
and he will surely curse you to your face.”
The Lord said to Satan,
“Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.”
Job 2:3-6
The end of this story is very, very good. All of Job’s first ten children were in heaven enjoying life as they had never before. Job and his wife got ten more children from God. And, Job’s wealth was greater than ever before. (See Job 42:12-17.)
It seems that hope grows by diminishing and then getting stronger after facing something more difficult. There is good biblical evidence that God brings suffering a little stronger than our present hope so that we must grow in our trust of Him. Hope, remember, is trust in God and His promises.
Sometimes, instead of being instigated by Satan, God Himself, for His own good purposes, brings that which challenges hope.
It seems that hope grows by diminishing and then getting stronger after facing something more difficult. There is good biblical evidence that God brings suffering a little stronger than our present hope so that we must grow in our trust of Him. Hope, remember, is trust in God and His promises.
Sometimes, instead of being instigated by Satan, God Himself, for His own good purposes, brings that which challenges hope.
Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”
“Here I am,” he replied.
Then God said,
“Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and
go to the region of Moriah.
Sacrifice him there
as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
Genesis 22:1-2
“Here I am,” he replied.
Then God said,
“Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and
go to the region of Moriah.
Sacrifice him there
as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
Genesis 22:1-2
God intervened and provided a ram to take Isaac’s place on the bonfire. All along, Abraham’s faith was in God and His good, sinless character and His promise that Abraham would have descendants as numerous as the sand on the seashore.
What this means for us, and this is one of the hardest things, is that we are called to understand that our sufferings are useful in the hands of God to strengthen our hope. Job and Abraham had enough hope to face the terrifically hard challenges they faced. And, their hope grew immeasurably. Similarly, we will be most useful to God in various kinds of spiritual warfare if we let God build greater hope in us through difficult things.
Therefore, since trials are coming, let us commit ourselves to keeping one another fit for battle by preserving one another’s hope. At times, it may be challenging, but God has promised to revive us before we faint.
What this means for us, and this is one of the hardest things, is that we are called to understand that our sufferings are useful in the hands of God to strengthen our hope. Job and Abraham had enough hope to face the terrifically hard challenges they faced. And, their hope grew immeasurably. Similarly, we will be most useful to God in various kinds of spiritual warfare if we let God build greater hope in us through difficult things.
Therefore, since trials are coming, let us commit ourselves to keeping one another fit for battle by preserving one another’s hope. At times, it may be challenging, but God has promised to revive us before we faint.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:30-32
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril,
and he will deliver us again.
On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
as you help us by your prayers.
2 Cor 1:10-11
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:30-32
He has delivered us from such a deadly peril,
and he will deliver us again.
On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us,
as you help us by your prayers.
2 Cor 1:10-11
The keys to preserving hope in one another are clearly specified – patience and prayer.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Rom 12:12
Rom 12:12
We are on God’s side in the War of All Wars between God and Satan. Someone we are close to needs his or her hope emboldened. Let’s engage the enemy by prayer and then go to our friend or relative’s side and remind him or her of the hope of God’s character as well as His promises in the Bible.
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
How in the Sinful Environment this Together Prepares Us for Heaven
Arthur and Victoria have scheduled a trip to see relatives on the other side of the country. They are hoping that their health will stay strong enough to travel, as they are in their latter years. They have friends from church that are not hoping for anything and who comment often that the joy has gone out of life. These people spend their time looking backward to all the fun they had earlier in life that is not possible now. When this held Arthur and Victoria back from expressing their excitement about their upcoming trip, they became aware of their sadness for these friends.
Arthur and Victoria wondered what they could do to help their friends enjoy life more. Then it dawned on them that the thing they all should be excitedly hoping for was not a trip here or there, but the glorious heaven that awaited them. So, they held a party for everyone, secretly designing it like a going-away party. Everyone was pleasantly surprised by Arthur’s devotional about heaven, and Victoria led a brain-storming session of all the wonderful things waiting for them around the corner of death. Everyone is not so gloomy anymore. Life is less humdrum. People do not complain so much about aches and pains because they see themselves getting closer to heaven with each birthday. They are even dreaming of being able to do again those things they most enjoyed when younger. |
Hope gives us patience in suffering, and that patience sustained by hope has unknown benefits in heaven.
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Romans 8:25
Romans 8:25
That is why we never give up.
Though our bodies are dying,
our inner strength in the Lord is growing every day.
These troubles and sufferings of ours are,
after all, quite small and won’t last very long.
Yet this short time of distress will result in
God’s richest blessing upon us forever and ever!
So we do not look at what we can see right now,
the troubles all around us,
but we look forward to the joys in heaven
which we have not yet seen.
The troubles will soon be over,
but the joys to come will last forever.
2 Cor 4:16-18 Today’s Living Bible
Though our bodies are dying,
our inner strength in the Lord is growing every day.
These troubles and sufferings of ours are,
after all, quite small and won’t last very long.
Yet this short time of distress will result in
God’s richest blessing upon us forever and ever!
So we do not look at what we can see right now,
the troubles all around us,
but we look forward to the joys in heaven
which we have not yet seen.
The troubles will soon be over,
but the joys to come will last forever.
2 Cor 4:16-18 Today’s Living Bible
Do we want “God’s richest blessing upon us forever and ever”? Then we want hope because it is so very essential for patiently dealing with “this short time of distress”.
Hoping is looking “forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen . . . . the joys to come will last forever.” We don’t want any of our close friends and family members to not hope in God and His promise for these joys. Whatever they will be, they must be better than joys we experience now.
Preserving each other’s hope now will make finding the special joys of heaven more exciting. To understand this, ask yourself which is more fun, finding an Easter egg just lying there on the ground or having an Easter egg hunt? If we go to heaven with a well-developed, strong hope to discover heaven’s joys, don’t you think that we will be a bit more excited to search for them? It seems quite likely that in heaven we will be at different levels of anticipation for its joys commensurate with the level of hope we allowed to develop in us this side of death.
While hope wavers during the Christian journey this side of death, presumably, it will not waver in heaven. However, it seems that situations and opportunities in heaven may require stronger hope, or trust, than we already have in God and His faithfulness – just not to deal with anything bad.
Helping one another keep our hope solid now will change our spirits to exercise our own hope stronger. In heaven, whatever our role with one another regarding hope, those of us who pay attention to this instruction from God to preserve one another’s hope will be able to join our hope with another’s hope for wonderful heavenly results that require more substantial hope.
Since hope is related to expecting new things from God’s character and His promises, not everyone’s ability to hope may be sufficient for the never-ending brand new things to hope for once we get to heaven. We will need others in heaven to help us with their stronger hope so we have sufficient hope for whatever good thing we want in heaven.
Suppose, for example, that there is a 20-mile long zip line in heaven and you do not have strong enough hope to anticipate this new opportunity that you would like to enjoy. In other words, it doesn’t quite come into your mind that you could do it. That would not be sin as thinking we can not do similar things now, before death, is not sin. But, it would require a boost in hope from someone who had more substantial hope. That person or those persons would say to you, “There is a zip line you would enjoy and can do. And, remember, our God protects us thoroughly now that Satan is not able to reach us.”
How this Together Can Make it Really Good in Heaven
Hoping is looking “forward to the joys in heaven which we have not yet seen . . . . the joys to come will last forever.” We don’t want any of our close friends and family members to not hope in God and His promise for these joys. Whatever they will be, they must be better than joys we experience now.
Preserving each other’s hope now will make finding the special joys of heaven more exciting. To understand this, ask yourself which is more fun, finding an Easter egg just lying there on the ground or having an Easter egg hunt? If we go to heaven with a well-developed, strong hope to discover heaven’s joys, don’t you think that we will be a bit more excited to search for them? It seems quite likely that in heaven we will be at different levels of anticipation for its joys commensurate with the level of hope we allowed to develop in us this side of death.
While hope wavers during the Christian journey this side of death, presumably, it will not waver in heaven. However, it seems that situations and opportunities in heaven may require stronger hope, or trust, than we already have in God and His faithfulness – just not to deal with anything bad.
Helping one another keep our hope solid now will change our spirits to exercise our own hope stronger. In heaven, whatever our role with one another regarding hope, those of us who pay attention to this instruction from God to preserve one another’s hope will be able to join our hope with another’s hope for wonderful heavenly results that require more substantial hope.
Since hope is related to expecting new things from God’s character and His promises, not everyone’s ability to hope may be sufficient for the never-ending brand new things to hope for once we get to heaven. We will need others in heaven to help us with their stronger hope so we have sufficient hope for whatever good thing we want in heaven.
Suppose, for example, that there is a 20-mile long zip line in heaven and you do not have strong enough hope to anticipate this new opportunity that you would like to enjoy. In other words, it doesn’t quite come into your mind that you could do it. That would not be sin as thinking we can not do similar things now, before death, is not sin. But, it would require a boost in hope from someone who had more substantial hope. That person or those persons would say to you, “There is a zip line you would enjoy and can do. And, remember, our God protects us thoroughly now that Satan is not able to reach us.”
How this Together Can Make it Really Good in Heaven
Everyone hopes for a good day in heaven. They are not hoping as in “wishing”. They are hoping as in “looking forward to something certain.”
Some have plans and some wait to make plans until the morning news reveals something they have not known about before. Jill has the hope today for excitedly progressing to a higher skill level on the avalanche slopes. Francine waited to make her decision, hoping for something to do she had never ever considered. She learned just this morning of a video class at the library about a characteristic of Jesus never before revealed. |
There will be no “same old, same old” in heaven. We will always have the hope of receiving something more from God. We will hope for some new quality of our Lord Jesus. We will hope for some new understanding that gives us goose bumps. We will hope for some new experience. All of these things will surely come from our creative God.
We know people who are greatly excited about life and its wonderful things. And, sadly, we know people who hardly respond to the sight of something wonderful, someone doing something really nice, or some new experience meant to be enjoyable.
Which one do we want to be? If we want to be in heaven receiving each new gift from God with excitement, then we want to grow in hope now.
Here’s another consideration.
Did you ever hope to see a relative sometime soon? Or hope to spend time with someone you love who is not around nearly enough? If so, the experience of hope should have been exciting.
My daughter and son-in-law are coming to Colorado from New York City next week. I am filled with excitement to see them face-to-face and be with them. I am filled with hope that the visit will happen. I enjoy the anticipation and am rather glad that they did not decide just to show up. Hoping for being with them is part of the excitement.
Our hope now and in heaven can be the hope of having a close encounter with God. Perhaps if we concentrate a bit more on hoping for intense moments with God now, we will reach higher levels of hope to meet with God when we get to heaven.
Can we decide to wake each day in hopes of being with God intimately? Can we hope to be used by God that day? Can we hope to do whatever God puts in front of us? Since that is what life will be like forever in heaven, let’s get started on it now.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Eternity
We know people who are greatly excited about life and its wonderful things. And, sadly, we know people who hardly respond to the sight of something wonderful, someone doing something really nice, or some new experience meant to be enjoyable.
Which one do we want to be? If we want to be in heaven receiving each new gift from God with excitement, then we want to grow in hope now.
Here’s another consideration.
Did you ever hope to see a relative sometime soon? Or hope to spend time with someone you love who is not around nearly enough? If so, the experience of hope should have been exciting.
My daughter and son-in-law are coming to Colorado from New York City next week. I am filled with excitement to see them face-to-face and be with them. I am filled with hope that the visit will happen. I enjoy the anticipation and am rather glad that they did not decide just to show up. Hoping for being with them is part of the excitement.
Our hope now and in heaven can be the hope of having a close encounter with God. Perhaps if we concentrate a bit more on hoping for intense moments with God now, we will reach higher levels of hope to meet with God when we get to heaven.
Can we decide to wake each day in hopes of being with God intimately? Can we hope to be used by God that day? Can we hope to do whatever God puts in front of us? Since that is what life will be like forever in heaven, let’s get started on it now.
Opportunity for a Closer Relationship with God through Eternity
Eric is hoping to have a close, personal encounter with God today in heaven.
At the same time, the Lord wants to meet with a few who fully believed in Him in spite of the opposition of sin and widespread unbelief before they died. He thinks of Eric and his steadfast belief in His character and promises. Eric is about to have his heart’s wish. |
Wouldn’t you rather spend time with someone who has believed in you more than others?
Enough said!
Hope means believing in God and His promises. When we do not help one another’s hope be strong, we are not helping one another believe firmly in the person of God as well as what He has said He will do.
Therefore, if we want God to chose to be with us more often or more intensely or however it works in heaven, we need to have solid hope. No hopelessness. No doubting God’s promise of consistent love for those who trust in Jesus. We need to help our friends have certainty, and we need them to help us keep our hope at a maximum.
Like us, God probably enjoys more being with people who believe in who He is and that He will do what He has promised.
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
Dear God of Our Hope, help me and those in my Christian Inner Circle to preserve one another’s hope in You and Your loving faithfulness to those of us who are Yours. Help us to be transparently involved in one another’s lives and listen for the Holy Spirit to indicate when someone’s hope is weak.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus who had His hope based solidly in God, His nature, His sovereign control, His love, and His promises. Like Jesus who constantly assured His followers to trust God, help us all to reassure one another that God is faithful and will deliver us during hard times. Empower us to help one another have hope that is certain about God, not just wishful hope.
May our lives worship You more because we believe without doubt in who You are and are certain of Your promises. Help us to keep one another’s trust in You high when troubles challenge our faith and security.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by together, with one another’s help, rebuffing Satan’s attempts to destroy our certain hope in Your love and care for us. Since the evil one will twist Scripture to degrade God and His truth, keep making us more complete in our knowledge of the Bible. Help us to see when one of us begins to doubt Your truth and Your steadfast love and take action to preserve that believer’s hope.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by growing more completely to trust in all You have promised us for this life so that we will enter heaven full of trust for all that You have promised for life after death. We want certain anticipation for wonderful relationship with You in heaven, as well as for all of the wonderful things You have planned for us.
Enough said!
Hope means believing in God and His promises. When we do not help one another’s hope be strong, we are not helping one another believe firmly in the person of God as well as what He has said He will do.
Therefore, if we want God to chose to be with us more often or more intensely or however it works in heaven, we need to have solid hope. No hopelessness. No doubting God’s promise of consistent love for those who trust in Jesus. We need to help our friends have certainty, and we need them to help us keep our hope at a maximum.
Like us, God probably enjoys more being with people who believe in who He is and that He will do what He has promised.
Praise and Prayer Regarding this Together
Dear God of Our Hope, help me and those in my Christian Inner Circle to preserve one another’s hope in You and Your loving faithfulness to those of us who are Yours. Help us to be transparently involved in one another’s lives and listen for the Holy Spirit to indicate when someone’s hope is weak.
Please help us all to become more like Jesus who had His hope based solidly in God, His nature, His sovereign control, His love, and His promises. Like Jesus who constantly assured His followers to trust God, help us all to reassure one another that God is faithful and will deliver us during hard times. Empower us to help one another have hope that is certain about God, not just wishful hope.
May our lives worship You more because we believe without doubt in who You are and are certain of Your promises. Help us to keep one another’s trust in You high when troubles challenge our faith and security.
Make us strong in Your power to defeat the devil by together, with one another’s help, rebuffing Satan’s attempts to destroy our certain hope in Your love and care for us. Since the evil one will twist Scripture to degrade God and His truth, keep making us more complete in our knowledge of the Bible. Help us to see when one of us begins to doubt Your truth and Your steadfast love and take action to preserve that believer’s hope.
Help us all to prepare for heaven by growing more completely to trust in all You have promised us for this life so that we will enter heaven full of trust for all that You have promised for life after death. We want certain anticipation for wonderful relationship with You in heaven, as well as for all of the wonderful things You have planned for us.