Saints of Hope
Good Morning Friends,
There are many men, women, fathers and mothers of families, even single sick people, and children and priests and pastors and widows and widowers who continually practice the love of Jesus. They are more than just members of an association of Christians or even a faithful family or benefactor. They have a substance formed by more than appearances. They are putting the will of God and the Word of God into loving practice each day to experience and share the rock which is Christ. They are Saints of Hope.
Scripture: Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Romans 8:26-30 (NRSV)
4In days to come the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be raised up above the hills. Peoples shall stream to it, 2and many nations shall come and say: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 3 He shall judge between many peoples, and shall arbitrate between strong nations far away; they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore;
Micah 4:1-3 (NRSV)
With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with tens of thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?’ 8He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Micah 6:6-8 (NRSV)
Message: There is often a hidden holiness that people miss about the collective work of Christians. You see there are countless people who carry in their hearts the hope of Christ. Even the sick bring their suffering and the poor their needs. It all works together for good for those who put the love of Jesus into practice. Now the prophet Micah had a vision about a generation being taught how to love and taught what reconciliation is all about. In this vision we discover that people do not have to teach people how to fight. Instead we need to be taught the way of peace…how to reconcile…how to prepare in practice of peace for the day of Christ’s coming. The substance here is humility…the foundation, Christ’s love and God’s will.
Paul in his letter to the Romans shares with us how God’s will is focused on the transformation He wants to do in us. Here we might learn to understand what God is ultimately seeking to accomplish in us. And when we do the trials and tribulations of life become easier to deal with. When we understand that the Lord’s will is for us, we can rest in His love and sufficiency, we cab discover a good way to live. Here filled with the Spirit our lives can be everything God wants them to be. Friends, the command is not to try harder. The command is to live lives that honor God. Here the fruit of the Spirit and the power of the Spirit work in us and through us to bring us victory over our bleakest moments.
Here we become Saints of Hope.
Pray we learn God’s ways and God’s truths. Pray we realize that God is bigger than our problems. Pray we realize that Christ gives us the ability to experience victory in any situation we face in life. Pray we discover the power of living positively using our unique gifts in our unique ways to serve God. Pray we make the most of the opportunities God gives to us. Pray we are filled with the Holy Spirit and live according to God’s influence. Pray we know what God requires. Pray we walk in His paths. Pray we discover peace and security through obedience. Pray we sharpen our skills with the right tools to be equipped for love. Pray we have personal and collective peace. Pray we consider the Saints of daily life… mothers and fathers of families, who raise their families, educate their children, carry on their daily work, bear their problems, but always with hope in Jesus. Pray we discover the freedom to serve in new ways, as a communion of Saints as a single body with Christ in this life and the next.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 