“…my flesh also will dwell in hope (will encamp, pitch its tent, and dwell in hope in anticipation of the resurrection.) (Acts 2:26 Amplified Bible)
We are living in what the Bible calls perilous times. Thank God that there is nothing that is happening that has taken God by surprise. His Word has already warned us of these times and has equipped us, and may I say appointed and destined us, to be born and to live in and through these times. In the midst of these times, we, the people who know, love and serve a living Savior, dwell in a land called hope. While our flesh walks this earth, the worst we can imagine here is still not the end. We have hope eternal, we serve a God Who promises us hope eternal and we can dwell in hope eternal right here in the messy reality of our broken world.
One of my favorite Bible verses is found in Hosea 2:15 “…I will make the valley of Achor (troubling) to be for her a door of hope and expectation. And she shall sing there…” This valley was the place of one of Israel’s biggest failures. It was the place of their defeat at Ai due to sin in the midst of the people. There, in the place of failure due to their own disobedience, God opens a door of hope and expectation. There, God's people respond to this God of Great Grace, with song. During these challenging times, don't let the circumstances, don't let the enemy of your soul, rob you of one of your greatest weapons of warfare. Sing! Worship God aloud! This is a reminder to yourself, as well as the enemy, that God is and always will be in control, He rules over all and you are firmly held in His hands.
To all who dwell in hope, the end is not the end. Not the end created by circumstances beyond our control, not the end due to our own wrong choices. The resurrected Christ is our door of hope to life eternal, and our door of hope and expectation in this life. His Word says that we will see and experience His goodness here in the land of the living.
Thank God for His gift of abounding, overflowing hope. Hold onto it tightly, friends.
Amen and Amen!
ReplyDeleteHolding onto it with all my might!
ReplyDeleteMe, too!
DeleteAs I was reading, the people of Italy? I think it was who all opened their windows and sang loud together during the first part of the Covid lock down. These times are really troubling, and the enemy wants us to fear, but we can sing as your post says. Sing loud, and hum and not let the bullies win because as you say, God has equipped us. Have a happy week.
ReplyDeleteMay your week be full of God's peace and joy as well!
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