Unseen Hope and Patience

Sallman

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But we hope for what we don’t see, we wait for it in patience. Romans 8:24-25 (ESV)

I had to consult Matthew Henry’s Commentary to better understand this passage.  Here’s what he tells us.

 “Our happiness is not in our present possession: We are saved by hope. Our reward is out of sight. Those that deal with God must deal upon trust. Faith respects the promise, hope the things promised. Faith is the evidence, hope the expectation of things not seen. Faith is the mother of hope. In hoping for this glory we need to have patience.” ^{(1) (Emphasis is mine.)}

Our reward is yet to come. First, we must have faith which looks to the promise. Hope expects the outcome we desire, what we are promised. We have to wait for God to do His work. We have to exercise patience.

Footnote:

1.       Matthew Henry’s Commentary in one volume, Zondervan Publish House (Regency)© 1961, page 1773.

Heirs Because of Hope

cecelialester-quiet spirit

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. So that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Titus 3:4-7 (ESV)

Paul writes these words to Titus, a trusted and dependable co-worker. Titus traveled with him on journeys to Corinth, Jerusalem, and Crete. What he says speaks to the core of Christian belief.

 

God our Savior…saved us-He rescued us, selfish, puny little me and you.

According to his own mercy-He loves us so much that He chose to perform this act.

By the washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit- He saved us by cleansing us, by giving us new growth and making us new in His sight.

So that being justified by his grace-God looks at us ‘just as if I’d not sinned.” He only sees the goodness He has implanted in our hearts.

We might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. His desire for us, His children, is that we become His and receive eternal life and spend our time with Him in our true home in heaven.

Hope in His Steadfast Love

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His delight is not in the strength of a horse,

nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,

but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,

in those who hope in his steadfast love.

Psalm 147:10-11(ESV)

These words of the psalmist tell us that God does not rely on the things we might trust. He looks with favor upon those who respect Him and who truly believe in His undying love. As humans we see others placing their trust in things that will eventually wear out. The house my parents bought when I was a toddler has been torn down for several years. All but one of the schools I attended have been demolished. The one build that still stands is a community center for those who live in that area.

We know physical strength can weaken and cause issues for us. We see it in those who become encumbered with weakened joints and muscles. I have witnessed different friends of mine lose their mobility due to disease and infirmities. It can be sad to watch someone go downhill. The only positive help is when they know the LORD.

Strength in God gives us all peace of mind and the ability to endure the times of intense stress and health crises. It is not easy to watch a loved one as they go through the rigors of disease. However, God is there for His children as they watch as he or she goes through those tough times.

Let us all learn to lean on God and his steadfast love as we endure times of stress and heartache.

The LORD, My Hope

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For you, O Lord, are my hope,

my trust from my youth.

Upon you I have learned from before my birth;

you are He who took me from my mother’s womb.

My praise is continually of you.

Psalm 71:5-6 (ESV)

The psalmist bares his soul here. What does he say that makes us stop and ponder his words?

“For you, O Lord, are my hope,” The writer tells God that He, the LORD, is his mainstay in life.

“my trust from my youth.” He tells God that He, the One true God, has upheld him from his early years.

“Upon you,

I have learned from before my birth;” God has been speaking to this psalmist from the time he could first hear. Just so you understand, babies can hear before they are born.

“you are He who took me from my mother’s womb.” God appoints the time for the birth process to begin. He is in control of our lives even earlier than the birth process. He determines the color of our eyes, the color of our hair, who we resemble of our parents or grandparents.

“My praise is continually of you.” Our praises should become our watchword and our response to all things that come to our ears and into our lives. If the event affects us in negative ways, it will make us stronger people, if we allow God to teach us the lessons He has for us.

Our Hope Is in Christ

 Surely a man goes about as a shadow!

Surely for nothing, they are in turmoil;

 man heaps up wealth and does not know

who will gather! And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?

My hope is in you.

Psalm 39:7 (ESV)

At first, David paints a dismal word picture. Then he speaks that he relies on God. Why does he say this? Earlier in the chapter he tells the Lord that he was silent but it was no use. (v.2)

At times believers have experiences when God has directed them to remain silent in light of surrounding circumstances that were not pleasing. When we hear stories that upset and offend us, we may find ourselves becoming depressed. However, if we remain obedient to the LORD, we will rise above the circumstance and will ultimately stand for the LORD.

Those with Seasonal Affective Disorder have a difficult time through the winter months when the sky is cloudy almost 100% of the time. Their brain needs to have light in order to keep them from deep depression.

However, we have a LORD who will guide us through those sensitive times where we might be offended by thoughts or words that come to our ears. When we read the Psalms, we see King David express his depressive thoughts and, a few verses later, and express his hope in God.

David placed his Hope in God. We have to do the same. This is a new year. Let’s all aim to place our hope in God in 2019.

song:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkMapZB8qMk

Waiting for Hope

https://dailyverse.knowing-jesus.com

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:11-13

Paul writes these words to Titus, whom Paul describes as my true child in a common faith.

Paul gives Titus and us a picture here of God’s working in our lives and the reason for each of those steps He takes on our behalf.

Through God’s grace for us, his children He:

 

*brings salvation for all people,

                God saves us from our sin. Jesus took all our sin onto Himself when He went to Calvary.

*trains us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions,

                God, through His word and the Holy Spirit, shows us what He finds unacceptable to Him.

*trains us to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives now,

                When we allow the Holy Spirit to have control of our lives, we possess self-control. When we have self-control, we lead upright lives that please God.

God does all these things as we await the hope of seeing the risen Christ appear in all His glory.

Anticipating Hope

http://www.georgewblack.com

Not only that but we rejoice in our sufferings knowing that sufferings produce endurance and endurance produces character and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 (ESV)

Paul gives the Roman Christians sage wisdom in this passage.

“we rejoice in our sufferings,”

Wait a minute! None of us like to rejoice when we are ill. I, personally, didn’t rejoice when I severely broke my ankle and was out of commission for almost five months. No one enjoys being ill or incapacitated.

“sufferings produce endurance,”

When we experience difficulties of health crises, interpersonal issues, or financial backsets, we learn to weather the storm and wait for the situation to get better or we find a ‘new normal’. This is called endurance.

“endurance produces character”

When we wait out the issues that lay before us, we find we have unknown strength. We become different people because of these new strengths.

“character produces hope,”

When our character and that new strength takes hold of our hearts, we begin to see things in a better light than before. We have a better rein on our emotions.

“hope does not put us to shame,”

Hope brings a positive outlook of our future. It causes people to have better feelings about their futures and what comes into their daily lives. Believers in Christ know that God is in control of all the circumstances of their lives.

“God’s love has been poured into our hearts”

We receive God’s love when we ask Jesus into our hearts and lives. We become His vessels, His representatives here on earth.

“through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”

God’s work in this age is done by the person He sent to us after He received Jesus back into heaven. The Holy Spirit guides us through our lives as we go through each day.