The Names of God

Our Lord: Our Hope!               

 

“Now may the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

I live in two worlds: an earthly nation and a heavenly kingdom. Earthly circumstances may, at times, dictate my thoughts and emotions; but when I look up, I see my heavenly King who reigns over all. He has prepared a magnificent future for His beloved friends. Like a beacon of light, that vision of eternal fellowship with my Lord beckons me onward in spite of obstacles and opposition. Like Paul, I aim to "press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."  Phil 3:14

When my finite human sight shows me loss and failure, the God of Hope points me toward His heavenly victory and sufficiency. Into my grief, He bring comfort. Into my  weakness, he brings divine strength. Through the marred and broken pieces of this "earthen vessel," He demonstrates His beauty and triumph. He sees my longing to be pure and holy, worthy to live in His wonderful presence, fit to be a messenger of His hope to others -- and He promises to accomplish it. [1 Thess 5:23-24] Therefore,

"I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,
My soul shall be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the earth brings forth its bud,
As the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring forth,
So the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth...." Isaiah 61:10-11

My God of Hope transforms hopelessness into victory for all who walk with Him and count on His promises. Abraham saw the deadness of his and Sarah's old bodies, yet,

"he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. ” Romans 4:19-22

And --

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God." Heb 11:8-10

Habakkuk saw the destruction of the beloved land, but looked beyond the devastation to the faithfulness of His Lord:

"Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines....
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills."
Hab 3:17-19

Hope's final triumph is over death -- when, seeing my beloved Bridegroom face to face, my old body will be transformed and I shall be like Him! What a glorious morning!

Hope means choosing to trust God, to remember His promises, to wait for His timing, to endure the pain He allows and to ever rejoice in His total sufficiency. It means running unhindered the race set before us, "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

Remembering God's love in the past, Jeremiah could look confidently toward the future:

This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul,
'Therefore I hope in Him!'”
Lamentations 3:21-24

Jesus, my Hope and my King, thank you for your Word, your promises and your life, which cause me to "press toward the goal." By your Spirit, live your life in me today and make me a beacon of hope to all I meet. Thank you, precious God of my Hope!

References:  Psalm 30:5, 33:18, 22;  Jer 29:11;  Lam 3:21-25;  Micah 7:7;  Habakkuk 3:17-18;  Romans 4:18-25, 5:3-4, 8:25, 28-39; 15:4;  1 Corinthians 1:7-8, 15:52, 54;  Philippians 3:14, 20-21;  1 Timothy 1:1;   Hebrews 6:11, 18-22;   1 Peter 1:3;  1 John 3:3.

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