Hope and Promises

Have you been promised something that you never received? Were you disappointed when the promise was broken? Have you made a promise you cannot fulfill? Were you ashamed you could not deliver it?

We often make promises with the full intention of fulfilling them. But sometimes an interruption occurs that prohibits us from fulfilling a promise. Broken promises affect both the one who made the promise and the one to whom the promise was made.

Promises are viewed with nearly the same importance as a contract. In some cases, a promise is equivalent to a contract. I can remember being told as a child to honor your word. In other words, keep your promises. A person gains trust by keeping their promises.

There are promises we can count on. Those promises are made by God. He made promises in the Old Testament that were fulfilled. Some fulfilled as God led the Israelites out of captivity. Others were fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus made promises during His ministry that we can read in the New Testament. Some of those promises are yet to be fulfilled, but we can count on them in the same way the Israelites did with God’s previous promises.

Knowing God has and will fulfill his promises puts confidence in our hope. What is our hope? It is the promise that God will execute justice and we will spend eternity with him. Our hope is not a foolish hope but is based on the promises of God—promises we can count on.

I pray we all hold onto our hope in God. I pray we know that God fulfills his promises. I pray each one of us know God’s promises and they strengthen our hope in him. Know God’s promises. Trust God’s promises. God fulfills his promises. Strengthen your hope. Hold onto your hope.

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

God’s Plan for Your Future

What are your plans for your life? Do you have it all mapped out for the next five, ten, twenty, or fifty years? Does your plan include professional goals with regular promotions? Is God included in your plan? Have you sought God’s plan for your life?

We make plans. We make plans for vacations months in advance. We make plans for our education. We make plans for purchasing a home. We make plans to get married. We make plans for a rewarding profession, one that we are interested in.

I have never been one to plan several years in advance, at least not in detail. I am more apt to plan by setting general goals. For example, I refinanced my home as a ten-year loan with the goal to pay it off earlier, if possible. But I never planned out my career, simply believing that if I did a good job, I would be promoted.

When it came to moving into ministry, my original plan was to be a part-time pastor serving small, country churches while continuing my other profession. I saw the lack of pastors, had taken a spiritual gifts survey, and had seen that I had a handful of gifts that would benefit me as a pastor. I was also encouraged by a few key people to go into ministry.

God had bigger plans for my ministry efforts. His planned included me leaving my other profession and going into full-time ministry. Thankfully, both my wife and I were praying, listening, and observing what God was doing in our lives as we went through this transition. The key to all of it was we trusted God had a plan and were willing to follow it.

God has a plan for each one of us. When we are willing to follow his plan, we experience the best of God’s blessings. That does not always include financial gain, but it does include blessings we do not expect. We cannot always see very far down the road. We must trust God and take the next step that he has illuminated for us. It can be a little scary. Yet when we trust God, he removes our fear and grants us peace.

I pray we all seek to follow God’s plan for our lives. I pray we pray, listen, and observe what he is doing in our lives. I pray each one of us puts our hope and trust that God will provide for our future. Seek God’s plan for you. Pray. Listen. Observe. Trust God. Put your hope in him.

Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Image of God

Have you ever wondered what God looks like? Do you have an image of him in your head? Does that image look a lot like father time? Ever wonder why you were created? Have you wondered why anything was created?

If we have been in the church for any significant amount of time, you have likely seen depictions of God the Father and God the Son. Those images will look dramatically different. One is looks more like a grandfather and the other like a man in his prime years.

Though none of us know with any certainty what God the Father looks like, we have a better idea of what Jesus might look like. He was born as a Jew. He likely had dark hair, olive skin, and physical features of a Jewish man. At the time He was born, He probably only grew to be a little more than five feet tall, as that was the average height of a Jewish man in the first century.

When the Apostle Paul says that Jesus is the image of God, he is not talking about the physical features. Paul is telling us of His compassion, grace, mercy, and love. He is telling us about how Jesus interacted and treated other people. The physical features are irrelevant.

Paul also tells us of the power of the Son. He states that all things were created through Him and for Him. That means that each one of us were created through the Son and each one of us were created for Him. You want to know your purpose? It is to honor and serve Jesus. He has authority over you and every other person created.

I pray we all see Jesus as the image of God. I pray we recognize Him as the Creator of all things. I pray each one of us will choose to honor and serve Jesus, recognizing His authority. See Jesus for who He is. Recognize Jesus’ authority. Honor Jesus. Serve Jesus. Know that He created you.

Colossians 1:15-16 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.

Victory in Jesus

Are you in the midst of struggle? Does it feel as though you are in the middle of a lake and all you can do is tread water? Are you longing to overcome your current circumstances? Are you fighting for a victory? Do you know help is available?

Daily life can be a struggle. It has become more difficult due to the effects of the pandemic. Lives were disrupted. Isolation was the start. Reduced supplies and resources contributed. Higher prices due to supply and demand has made it worse.

Some have turned to drugs and alcohol for temporary relief from their worry and anxiety. Others have delved in rampant sinful behavior. Still others have used it as an excuse to walk away from the church and fellowship with followers of Jesus.

Unfortunately, when seeking relief through worldly possessions, behaviors, and beliefs will not bring the victory we all seek. Only faith in Jesus can bring the ultimate victory. Our faith in Him and obedience of His commands bring us the victory we desire over these disruptions.

Does that mean everything suddenly becomes rosy? No. It does mean our mental and spiritual well-being improves and continues to improve as we continue to follow Him. It means our perspective changes. Our attitude changes. We become content. We are peaceful. We come to realize the negatives of this world are nothing when compared to the wonders of eternity.

Through Jesus we overcome the sin of this world. We overcome the desire to pursue selfish outcomes. We achieve victory in this life and for all eternity through our faith in Jesus. Victory in Jesus our Savior, the Son of God.

I pray we all turn to Jesus for the victory we desire. I pray we put our faith in Him. I pray each one of us will seek to overcome our sinful nature through Jesus. Be an overcomer. Achieve victory. Be a victor. Set aside your selfishness. Improve your well-being. Change your perspective. Put your faith in Jesus. Trust Him at all times.

1 Corinthians 15:56-57 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Go, Make Disciples

What does it mean to make a disciple? Have you ever pondered that? Would you like to make a disciple? Are you willing to do as Jesus commanded? Will you tell the story of Jesus?

Making disciples can seem a bit challenging. We may wonder how to go about starting the conversation. We may be hesitant to talk to someone about Jesus. Especially if it is a family member we know is obstinate.

Rather than worrying about how to start the conversation, listen. Listen for a question concerning how you get through difficult times, then tell them you rely on God—his wisdom, guidance, and strength.

Listen for a question about your cheerful attitude, then tell them you have joy because of your belief in God. Tell them your joy is everlasting and cannot be taken away from you.

Listen for a question about your success, then tell them your success is due to God’s blessing you with the right skills and following His plan for your life.

As we listen to others, we will find opportunities to speak about God. The key is to listen intently. Pick up the questions, even if they are only implied. It is often by listening that we learn about the other person and can respond appropriately.

I pray we all listen for opportunities to speak about God. I pray we are ready to tell others how God has impacted our lives. I pray each one of us will go make disciples every chance we can. Be a disciple. Listen attentively. Respond appropriately. Tell your story. Tell the gospel story. Make disciples.

Matthew 28:19-20a Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

The Greatest Impact

Do you long to know when specific things will happen? Would like to know when time will end? Do you want to know what your task in life is until then? Are you ready to carry out the most important task of your life…and perhaps for many others?

Some in this world believe the end times are coming soon. Many want to know when they will come. Others want to know what the purpose of their life is. But so many of them do not really want to know but want to know their own plan is the right plan.

Knowing can be powerful. Knowing can also be frightening. Seeking knowledge can be a lifelong quest. Understanding the meaning of knowledge can be an even larger quest. Knowledge without wisdom is not worth much. Wisdom only comes from one place.

When we are told our purpose in life is to know God and to tell others about him, we balk at it. We think our purpose should be something grand. We want it to be doing something great. We want to climb the corporate ladder. We want to have a positive impact on people via good works.

The greatest work we can do is to know who Jesus is, believe in Him, and tell others about Him. It is the most positive impact we can have on anyone. To convince someone else that they need Jesus as their Lord and Savior is the most wonderful and greatest impact we can have on someone.

I pray we all choose to know more about God. I pray we decide to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. I pray each one of us will choose to have a positive impact on others by telling them about Jesus. Believe in Jesus. Accept Him as Lord and Savior. Choose to tell others about Him. Have the greatest impact on people possible.

Acts 1:7-8 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Exciting News

Do you like to spread good news? Does it excite you to tell someone when good things happen? Is there something you are looking forward to? Is your excitement bubbling out of you? Is it difficult for you to contain yourself?

There are times in our lives when we get so excited about something that has happened or will soon happen that we can hardly contain ourselves. It may be a promotion, an engagement, a birth of a child, or any number of other wonderful events.

As excited as we get about some events, it doesn’t last. Oh, it may last for a few days, weeks, or perhaps even months. But eventually the excitement wears off. Our minds are filled with daily tasks, chores, meetings, and discussions.

There is one event we should all be excited about. Actually, we might say two. The first is that Jesus died and rose again to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. We are forgiven as we repent of our sins because of what Jesus did for us.

The second is His promise that we will spend eternity with Him. God has made a way to redeem us to himself and reinstitute a perfect relationship with him—as it was originally intended. We will experience only joy and love forever.

Aren’t those two events something wonderful? If we believe they are, we should be telling others about them just as we would one of the other wonderful events we are so excited about. After all, they will never go away, never fade, never be lost. Definitely something to be excited about.

I pray we all are excited to know our sins are forgiven. I pray we are bubbling over with excitement for an eternity spent with God. I pray each one of us will tell others about our excitement. Be excited. Be joyous. Tell others about your excitement. Tell others about Jesus.

Luke 24:46-47 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

Eternal Winning

Do you like to be on the winning side? Are you competitive? Does losing upset set you or make you cringe or fume? Have you taken steps to be a winner? Are you following the One who can lead you to an eternity of winning?

Many of us are competitive. Some are ultra-competitive. Losing is not an option. We will do whatever it takes to win…even cheating for some. If we fall short, we work harder to win the next time. When our favorite team wins, we cheer.

Competitiveness isn’t relegated to sports. It occurs in our workplace. One worker trying to outperform another to gain a promotion. It is prevalent in politics. We merely need to watch the news to see it. It even occurs in our families. One member competing with another for attention.

There is a much larger competition going on for our souls. God wants us to be with him forever. Satan wants us to fall and ultimately be destroyed along with him. It comes down to a choice—our choice. We can choose to join God or choose destruction. There is no middle ground.

As we see in today’s passage, Jesus has been given all authority. When we choose Him, we win for all eternity. If we do not choose Him, we face destruction—for all eternity. As we read the choices, it seems to be an easy one, but it is not.

Why is the choice hard? We face millions of choices throughout our lives, each one contributing to the bigger choice of choosing God or not. We are easily led astray by the world’s temptations. How do we combat making bad choices? We choose to know God more intimately by reading His Word, spending time in prayer, and participating in His Church.

I pray we all choose to be on the winning side. I pray we choose God over this world. I pray each one of us will ask Jesus to take charge of our hearts and keep us close to Him. Choose to be a winner. Choose eternal life. Read God’s Word. Know God more intimately. Ask God to guard your heart.

John 3:35-36 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

Desire to Learn

Are you willing to learn? Will you study to be better educated? Do you ask questions to become more proficient? Have you ever changed professions? Do you desire to live a better life? Will you seek to know life’s instructions?

We all go to school for a number of years. The amount of schooling we complete largely depends on the profession we choose. Yet, nearly every profession requires us to continue learning if we expect to be more proficient.

Some professions require college degrees. Those of us who pursue those professions go to school another four, six, or eight years. Even if our profession does not require a college degree, it is very likely we must go through additional training at various times. Some training may be online classes, while other is more hands on.

If we expect to continue to learn to be proficient in our chosen profession, shouldn’t we also expect to continue to learn to increase our knowledge of God? What is more important? Our profession? God? Eternal life? What do your actions reveal?

Unless we are professional theologians, we cannot spend hours upon hours each day studying the Bible. However, if we have ever chosen to change professions, we know it requires a lot of study, while not working, to be educated and qualified for the new profession.

Being a Christian is not a profession but a lifestyle. It is a choice to live a better life than we would otherwise. It is choosing to live as God would have us live. But we cannot live as he would have us live if we do not know his instruction. To know God’s instruction, we must study his Word, even if only a few minutes per day.

I pray we all choose to know more about God. I pray we decide to spend time studying God’s Word. I pray each one of us will decide to attend Bible studies to learn how God desires us to live. Decide to learn God’s Word. Spend time studying his Word. Choose to participate in Bible studies. Ask God to give you the discipline to study.

Acts 2:42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Astronomical Fulfillment

Have wondered why Jesus came to this earth? Why would God send his Son to walk the earth as a man? For what purpose would God’s Son teach, preach, perform miraculous signs, and be crucified? Are you ready for the answer?

There are many skeptics in this world. They do not believe Jesus was the Son of God. They do not believe He really came to be their Savior. They do not believe He fulfilled prophecy. Their skepticism may have infiltrated those who do believe.

We have been told many times over that God has a plan. We have been told his plan has been implemented through Jesus and continues to be executed. But our daily lives rarely exhibit it. Our belief has waned or has not grown as it should through experience with Jesus. We are nearly two-thousand-years removed from Him walking the earth. Our belief is strained.

The book of Isaiah was written approximately seven-hundred-years before Jesus was born to Mary. God gave Isaiah the prophecy that Jesus was not only coming to Israel but to be the Savior of the world. The prophecy states that He would be a light to the Gentiles, non-Jews. It states He would be the salvation of the world.

Jesus came to fulfill that prophecy. Not only did Jesus fulfill the prophecy declared in today’s passage, but He fulfilled more than three-hundred prophecies from the Old Testament. There is no reason to doubt who He is. The odds of someone fulfilling all those prophecies are astronomical. The odds are so large we cannot begin to wrap our minds around it.

I pray we all believe Jesus fulfilled prophecy. I pray we believe He came to be our Savior as part of God’s plan. I pray each one of us put our faith in Jesus, believing with our whole heart. Know that Jesus fulfilled prophecy. Believe Jesus is the Son of God. Believe in Jesus as your Savior. Put your faith in Him.

Isaiah 49:6

he says:

“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant

to restore the tribes of Jacob

and bring back those of Israel I have kept.

I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,

that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”