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

I pray that you had a wonderful day of worship with your local church as you gathered with the saints on the Lord’s Day. It is my prayer that you are renewed in faith, hope and love to walk faithfully before the Lord. The journey of life is filled with hills and valleys. Over every horizon are hills of new opportunities surrounded by valleys of difficulty that challenge us to climb to new heights of hope. The scripture passage is a prayer of encouragement for the blessings of God to fill us that we may not despair but have hope. Hope is the expectation of what is sure. True hope comes from God for He is “the God of hope.” The Psalmist wrote “remember the word unto Thy servant, upon which Thou hast caused me to hope” (Ps 119:49). True hope is found in God and believing His word. Job believed God and trusted Him in life and death. Even though Job suffered great loss, endure much pain and sufferings, he declared with confident assurance and great expectation “For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth” (Job 19:10). Job’s hope was in the Lord. The child of God can look to God and lean on the word of God with great expectation that “according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet 1:3). The hope that God provides is not some wishful hope that fades, or some maybe or might be kind of hope, but is a living hope that will “fill you with all joy and peace in believing” that your faith will “abound in hope.” Living hope fills and does not faint nor fade. It is an eternal fountain that flows into everlasting life (Jn 4:14). Living hope flows into the uttermost parts of the soul where human hands never touch, or heart can ever resolve. It is hope that abounds to all who believe “through the power of the Holy Ghost.” The Spirit of the Lord liberates the heart (2 Cor 3:17) and fills the soul with “joy and peace.” God is absolute, and we can be sure in Him. His word is truth and gives life to all who believe. Dear friend, “be of good courage” (Ps 31:24) and see the Lord strengthen your heart “that ye may abound in hope.” He will never leave you nor forsake you. He is faithful to be with you unto the end of the age (Mt 28:20). Father, thank You for Your love and gift of hope that You “fill with all joy and peace.” Remind me of Your word that I may always “abound in hope.” In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

What shall I render unto the LORD for all His benefits toward me? Ps 116:12

Take a moment and reflect on the good things in your life. This may take some work to focus on the good things, the blessings, and the subtle things that have passed through our lives with little notice, rather than the impactful things that trouble our past. Give thought to the things that you enjoy today as well as the things that you have enjoyed over a lifetime. Take a moment to begin to count your many blessings and name them one by one. The scripture passage reminds us to be grateful to the Lord for His goodness and many blessings in our life. The Psalmist paused to reflect and consider the status of his of life and “the Lord for all His benefits towards me.” The Lord had stepped in at the nick of time and delivered him from death’s door. He recalled the compassion and graciousness of the Lord through the many troubles and sorrows of his past. He recalled how the Lord heard his cry for help and saved him from death and despair. Dear friend, the Lord desires to hear His children. He invites His children to “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). He never grows weary of His children asking and seeking His help. For He says, “pray without ceasing” (1 Thes 5:16). He is ready and willing to “open the windows of heaven and pour you out a blessing” (Mal 3:10), more graciousness than we could ever ask or think. It is when God hears and answers prayer that the child of God can “rejoice” and “give thanks” (1 Thes 5:16). My friend, what trouble or difficulty are you holding on to that hinders you from crying out to the Lord? He wants you to know that He is “a very present help in trouble” (Ps 46:1). Call to Him (Jer 33:3) and cast “all your care upon Him, for He careth for you” (1 Pet 5:7). God loved you so that He sent His Son to save you from the eternal ruin of sin and deliver you from death’s door into His eternal glory. God doesn’t have to be good to us, but He wants to. He wants to shower “all His benefits toward” His children. What shall we give unto the Lord for all His benefits? Give Him your heart and from a heart of gratitude offer to Him all your thanksgiving and praise. Father, thank You for Your love and always being present to help in trouble times. Your goodness towards me is greater than I can think or image. You are worthy of all thanksgiving and praise. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.

And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving Spirit. 1 Cor 15:45

Have you ever been in a room where all was quiet, all was solemn? A place where people seemed so distant, alone, and separated? Then it happened that someone entered the room and all things changed. People came alive, full of energy, excited and engaging. I’ve seen this happen with my children after a long day to come home and announced, “Daddy’s home.” Immediately they became alive with excitement and filled with joy. For what they could not bring of themselves was given to them by one who loved them and poured himself out for them. The scripture passage reminds us that though we are living beings, we are not complete, and something is missing. Though man “became a living being,” he is a depraved soul cast down to the material pleasures of the world, left restless and wondering for the greater glory for which he was created. The soul of man is “a living being” but not alive because of sin. The soul of man is “dead in trespasses and sin” (Eph 2:1) and must be made alive by “a life-giving Spirit” to know the glory of heaven. For depraved man, God sent His only Son Jesus to save man and deliver him from sin and give him eternal life. The eternal life of Jesus Christ is Spirit filled life and all who believe the gospel and receive Jesus by faith have life everlasting. The gospel is life declared to the soul of man and the Spirit gives life to those who hear and believe. Jesus declared “It is the Spirit who gives life…the words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (Jn 6:63). The Spirit speaks through the word of God that “is living and powerful…and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Heb 4:12). The Spirit knows the hidden thoughts of our heart, all the lies we believe, the deceptions that we hide behind, and the fears that we shun. The Spirit actively seeks to draw the souls of men to the marvelous truth and give life to all who believe through faith in Jesus Christ (Rom 3:22). Dear friend, are you in the “first man Adam” or “the last Adam?” Have you heard the Spirit search your heart and speak to your soul the good news of God’s love for you? He gives life for your soul that “you rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet 1:8) such that the Spirit of His Son cries out from a joyful heart “Abba Father!” (Gal 4:6). One day soon, we will rejoice with the Father, because His children are home. Jesus is the “last Adam…a life-giving Spirit.” Have you been given life in Him? Father, thank You for Your love and life in Jesus Christ. You are worthy of all praise and all thanksgiving. In the blessed Name of Jesus. Amen.