9-27-2015

Good Morning All!!

          Job 6:8; “Oh that I might have my request, and that God would fulfill my hope,”

         The Beatles sang about how “all you need is love.”  It’s easy or so they sang.  Sometimes, in our life, love isn’t all we need.  Sometimes when you face another day of pain from some heal issue that doesn’t seem to heal or you face concern about a loved one, who seems to be slipping away, or you face a crying baby one more day; love might not be enough.  You need a little hope.

    Hope is something that is often in short supply.  When sin entered the world, hope went away and despair appeared.  For many people, they might feel love but they feel that there is no future or any chance that tomorrow will be better.  That is exactly what the devil wants you to think.  The devil wants you to think you will never feel better or the loved one is already gone or the baby will always cry.  Usually, the devil adds insult to injury by trying to convince you it is your fault.  A life in this type of turmoil, in this type of despair often experiences incredible despair.  It causes thought of being worthless and of no value.

    Into this hopelessness, Jesus came to give us hope.  We have hope, that promise from God that we are his children and that tomorrow will be better.  We have God’s hope that we have eternal life and that our sins are forgiven.  This hope is certain.  There is nothing in our life or experience that can ever take this hope from us.  God’s love and mercy are always available to us.

    Jesus also instructs us to bring that hope that we experience to those around us who are in despair.  This might be visiting and praying with a sick friend and offering them encouragement but also actual time with them.  It might be offering that young mother an afternoon of babysitting so she can have a break.  It might be taking dinner over to that neighbor.  It doesn’t take a lot but one little act of sharing God’s love can give that person hope.  Hope that can lift the veil of despair.  Hope that can breathe life into a dark and dismal existence.  Hope is what is needed and it is what God desires us to give to those around us.

    So try to offer someone you know some hope.  Offer a prayer and time together.  Offer to aid where you can.  Offer a shoulder when you can.  Give them hope.  Give them what God has given to you.  Pray for them, pray with them and give them the hope that the world so desperately needs.

Father of all mercy, you give us hope through Jesus.  Guide us to be the agents of hope in this dark and broken world.  Lead us to the broken and the hurt that we may share your love, that we might share your mercy, that we might give them hope.  Through your Spirit all things may be accomplished.  Move us by your Spirit to reach out to the hurting.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret