That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments. Ps 78:7

I pray that you had a wonderful gathering and worship with the saints at your local church on the Lord’s Day. Many churches gathered in remembrance of the Lord to partake in the communion of the Lord’s Supper. Communion with the saints is a reminder of the hope we have in Jesus and His soon return. How do we learn about God and have hope in Him? How do come to know Him and trust Him? The scripture passage reminds us to “not forget the works of God.” It is through remembering Him, teaching Bible stories, and recognizing “the glorious deeds of the Lord, and His might, and the wonders that He has done” (Ps 78:4) that we learn of God. Every generation needs to know the Lord and learn of God’s faithfulness to His creation. The Psalmist reminds us to have faith in God and teach our children to have hope in God that they might come to know Him and have faith in Him. The saddest statement in the Bible is “there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord” (Jdg 2:10). The greatest responsibility of parents is to teach their children about the Lord. This first begins through faith and trust in Jesus Christ for one’s own salvation. The responsibility of the church is to disciple God’s people, equip the saints – especially parents (Eph 4:12), and “keep His commandments.” Together, parents along with the support and encouragement of the local church, teach children to trust, have faith and “hope in God.” This is the most precious gift that parents can give their children. My friend, do your children know about your communion with God? Begin today to share your faith that they may know Him, trust Him and “set their hope in God.” Sharing your faith may save a life and change generations to come. Father, thank You for Your love and faithfulness. Help our parents to share their faith and train up their children in the ways of God (Ps 22:6) and knowledge of the “works of God.” Father You are good and righteous and “able to save to the uttermost” those who come to You (Heb 7:25) and remember You. May we “not forget the works of God” and always live and love one another in remembrance of You. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Rom 15:13

First impressions. We often develop first impressions of people or things within the first few moments of the encounter. We may say that was a sweet person, or they have a pleasant personality. Even in children we may notice a calm, quiet spirit that is peaceful and restful. Some people are bubble, while other boil. As we come to know people, there seems to be a consistent overflow that pours from within, no matter the circumstance or situation. The evidence of hope in the Christian life is marked by joy and peace. The scripture passage reminds us that “all joy and peace in believing” depend on “the God of hope” and “the power of the Holy Ghost.” God is able to save us, to give us the strength we need, and to fill us with joy and peace that “ye may abound in hope.” The child of God is filled with the “living water” (Jn 4:10) of hope that overflows from the Spirit of God through faith in believing to bear “the fruit of the Spirit” (Gal 5:22). The fruit of the Spirit is joy and peace. Jesus declared “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit, for without Me ye can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). Jesus is the source of all hope. For without Him you can do nothing and without Him we have nothing. Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by Me (Jesus)” (Jn 14:6). Jesus is faithful to receive all who come to Him and “will in no wise cast out” (Jn 6:37) that “the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing.” Dear friend, would others say that your life is filled with an overflow of joy and peace? Do those around you see you “abound in hope.” Does “the God of hope fill you” that “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding…keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7)” My friend, come unto Jesus and abide in Him that “ye may abound in hope.” Hope that overflows into living water. Father thank You for Your love and the living water of hope through Your Son and the power of the Holy Ghost. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Rom 15:4

When you get knocked down, get back up. When you get knocked out, wake up to fight again. Where does this type of tenacity come from? We all are not geared this way. For some, there comes a time to just walk away. For others, they stay in the fight. Do you know any Christians like that? Their life is filled with adversity, troubles, trials, and sufferings. Yet, they seem to be driven and sustained with hope, to continue the good fight of faith. The scripture passage instructs us that the word of God is “written for our learning, that we…might have hope.” Christian hope is sustained by the “patience and comfort of the Scriptures.” The strength and endurance that enables the child of God to preserve through trials, press on through troubles, overcome adversity, comes from meditating on the word of God. As we spend time in God’s word, we can learn about God’s faithfulness to His promises, and of God’s faithfulness to His people “to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). Throughout the pages of the scriptures God unfolds His plan of Salvation to redeem man from sin (Lk 1:68). God’s unfailing goodness, His loving kindness, His mercy, and His grace are fully displayed and “continue as they were from the beginning of creation” (2 Pet 3:4). It is the word of God that helps us stand firm against false teaching and deception, and to “hope in the Lord” (Ps 31:24). Jesus compared faith in the word of God to a wise man who built his house on a rock and his house withstood the rain, floods, and winds. My friend, build you life on the word of God, read, it, study it, and hide it in your heart (Ps 119:11) that you may endure life’s troubles, trials, and temptations with the “hope of salvation…through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thes 5:8). Dear friend, feed your hope with the Word of God that is “the hope which is laid for you in heaven” (Col 1:5). The word of God is the rock to build your life and the anchor for troubled seas that you may know “the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:7). Father thank You for Your love and the hope that we have through the “patience and comfort of scriptures.” Fill me with the desires of Your love as I delight in Your word. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.