TRUE HOPE PERSEVERES

Let’s take a moment to review our HOPE acrostic. First, hope is heart-level (and hear-felt). It comes from (and is rooted in) God alone, and it changes how we see the world. Next, hope produces realistic optimism. How can we be optimistic in this broken world? We are optimistic because we realize that God is still on His throne, He loves us very much, and He’s promised us a brilliant eternal future. That brings us to today … true hope perseveres.

Perseverance isn’t a term we hear very often any more. Just for reference, here’s what Dictionary.com has to say: “steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.”

Perhaps another word we could use is “endurance.” Consider the connection between hope and endurance in the following passages (italics are added for emphasis):

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1Co 13:7 ESV)
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. (Rom 15:4 ESV)
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Rom 5:3-5 ESV)

Hope doesn’t mean that the going will always be easy. I think we’ve all lived long enough to know the truth of that. But, hope does mean that we will make it through (persevere) whatever challenges we may face … if we keep our eyes on Christ, relying on His strength and looking forward to the future He has promised. So, whatever you’re facing, persevere with hope!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

HOPE PRODUCES REALISTIC OPTIMISM

Dictionary.com lists several definitions for optimism. Among them are: “the tendency to expect the best and see the best in all things,” “a disposition or tendency to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and to expect the most favorable outcome,” and “the belief that good ultimately predominates over evil in the world.”

While the pessimists among us might be tempted to say, like Scrooge, “Bah! Humbug!” All Christians should have a realistic optimism. While we recognize that our circumstances may not always turn out very good in this life, we know that God is still in charge, and He can use even our most discouraging times for His glory or to mold us into His image:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those 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 among many brothers. (Rom 8:28-29 ESV)

It is the knowledge that God loves us and is working in our lives that helps us “see the best in all things.” Ultimately, we’ve been promised a “favorable outcome”—an eternity with Him in a new heaven and earth (Rev. 21-22). If we take the time to read Revelation 20, we find assurance that “good ultimately predominates over evil in the world.”

Yes, we admit that we will have hard times, but that is not the end of the Story!

I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33 ESV)

The Christian’s optimism isn’t rooted in this world, it’s rooted in eternity and the promises of God, who will never leave us nor forsake us! While the Christian life won’t always be easy, it does have the best possible outcome—an eternity with our Savior!
In His grip,
Pastor Decker

TRUE HOPE IS HEART-LEVEL

True hope is something life-altering, that changes how we see the world. It isn’t merely something intellectual - that we think in our heads. Rather, hope resides in our hearts … it’s a heart-felt, confident expectation that is rooted in the person of Jesus Christ and the promises God has made to those who love Him.

This is where the world’s concept of “hope” has gone wrong. So many times, hope is reduced to little more than a wish or desire: i.e. I hope the Lions win today. Lets face it, those of us who like to follow the Detroit Lions have had to settle for something less than a confident expectation of a win. I’ve even heard people proclaim, “the Lions didn’t lose today” on Sundays when the Lions didn’t play. That kind of “hope” will surely disappoint.

The Christian’s hope, however, will not disappoint! While we will face trials and tribulations, we know in our hearts that God is faithful and He will carry us through! We know that His Word (the Bible) is Truth, and what God promises is sure to happen. While the head may question, the heart is resolute and unwavering. It’s not something that comes from within, but rather something that God places within the heart of a believer. So, this week I encourage you to celebrate the hope that is within you and meditate on these verses:

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jer 29:11 ESV)

… the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love. (Psa 147:11 ESV)

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever... (Psa 146:5-6 ESV)

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

HOPE ACROSTIC

You may have noticed a new verse on the inside of your bulletins last week. It was Paul’s prayer for the church of Rome and it’s my prayer for you for 2011:

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13)

We all need hope! Thankfully, God has provided it in the promises of Scripture and the person of Jesus Christ. As I was considering and praying about what to write, an acrostic for the word, “hope,” came to mind. What is an acrostic? Webster defines an acrostic as “a poem or other arrangement of words in which certain letters in each line, as the first or last, spell out a word, motto, etc.” I’m sure there have been others, but here’s what came to me:

Heart-level / Heart-felt
Optimism
Persevering
Experiences

Over the next four weeks, I’d like to take a look at each of these. Just to give you a taste, here’s an idea of what each of the terms means to me. By “heart-level”, I mean something life-altering, that changes how we see the world. By optimism, I’m not merely referring to thinking “happy thoughts,” but a positive outlook on life that is based in eternal life … it’s that “confident expectation” of what is to come. Persevering refers to the aspect of hope that helps us work through our trials and tribulations. “Experiences” refers to our temporal experiences - past, present and future, and the recognition that true hope overcomes anything we might face.

So, for this week, keep your eyes on Christ and your heart set on the hope that He has given us!

In His grip,
Pastor Decker

A Hope-filled New Year

Over the past couple days, you’ve probably had a few people wish you “happy new year!” While it’s become a common expression at the turn of the year, we all yearn for a happy 2011. The trouble is, happiness comes and goes with our circumstances. Yes, we hope and pray for more happy times than sad times, but shouldn’t we, as Christians, have perspective that transcends circumstances? The answer is obviously, YES!

As Christians, we do long for happy times, but we have a joy that overrides our circumstances. That joy is rooted in our salvation and assurance of God’s care and presence:

I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Heb 13:5)

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand." (John 10:28-29)

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (Romans 15:13)

“Filled with joy and peace … abounding in hope” … that sounds great! That’s what God wants for His people … and that’s what I want for all of you! Remember, God is greater than any circumstance, and He will lead you through! You may not know the way, but God does … He’s already been there, and He knows the best route! Follow Him!

So, while most people will wish you a happy new year, I wish you a hope-filled new year. May God bless you in 2011.

In His grip,
Pastor Decker