Hope For The Faithful

Friday, February 3, ‎2023

Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: 1 Corinthians 2:9

But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

Memory verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Readings: EXODUS 31-33 MATTHEW 22:1-22

Hope For The Faithful

Take away all our amenities-our creature comforts. Take away our air conditioning; take away our phones and TV's; take away all electricity; take away cars-anything with a motor.

All people would have to walk everywhere and sleep in hot houses. Food would be grown in gardens and all would have to trade for everything. Money would be scarce.

This all would really be depressing to us who have all these things.

This is the world in which Jesus lived. People had little hope of being anything more than what they were born into. The heart of Jesus was to give hope-divine hope-eternal hope.

Luke 6: 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.

28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

The humble, the meek, the quiet peacemaker-those who serve behind the scenes with very little recources-those who do not consider their station-those to whom social level does not matter-and many more-these are the least-here in this plane of existence.

There is hope. There is hope for even the least...a great promise full of hope...the last shall be first.

For the rest of us who may be proud of ourselves, there is hope, yet, for humility.

Micah 6:8 He has told you, humanity, what is good,

and what Adonai is seeking from you:

Only to practice justice, to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with your God.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Forgive me my pride.

Humble my heart before You and before my fellow man. Let me see with Your eyes the needs around me and reach with Your love and power.

Great and merciful God!

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen