That We Might Have Hope

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-Your peace-Your knowledge and discernment. Build my trust. I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name...

Verse of the Day: Amos 5:14-15

14 "Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you, as you have said. 15 Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate;"

Memory verse: Psalm 139:23–24 (ESV)

23  Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24  And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!

Today's reading: Genesis 20-22 Matthew 6:19-34

That We Might Have Hope

One Christian group has as its motto: "To know Him and make Him known"or ours is to know Jesus and make Jesus known to the world.

This covers a lot and two of the most important things in a Christian's life are prayer and Bible reading and we will, for a while, explore Bible reading.

Romans 10:17 “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

The more time we spend in God’ word, the more we can and should expect our faith to grow and get deeper and stronger.

We must start by knowing this about the word of God: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness...”2 Timothy 3:16

God breathed scripture-He inspired the writers to write what they wrote. It is from God’s heart straight to us. We have no need greater in this life than to know what God breathed and is still breathing-He still speaks it to us each time we read any of it.

The written word also is for building our hope.

Romans 15:4 “4 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.

The ‘endurance’ of scripture is that it never fails-never dies-never loses strength or meaning-because it is breathed by God. It is alive:

Hebrews 4:12 ►”For the word of God is alive and active.”

The ‘encouragement of the Sciprures’ is just that.

 Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”

There are countless verses we could print but the entire Bible is God breathing hope-hope for strength in our everyday, every trial life. God says to us every time we open His word-”There is a better day”. No matter how bad it gets, God will lift us up-no matter how good it gets, God has better.

Read God’s word and hear His voice speak directly to your heart.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

I want to shout how great Your name is and how beautiful is Your kingdom. I ask for the desire to obey You above all else. Forgive me for selfishness and lead me away from evil desires of the world.

Awesome and gentle God,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen