Verse of the Day 11/29

Through the Bible - Ezekiel 43-44, 1 John 1

 

Good morning,

As we head into the Christmas season one of the most common themes in the hymns that you will hear will be hope.  In "O Holy Night" we sing "the thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices".

If you've experienced dark days and hours a sudden turn around gives you a thread of hope, it can thrill you.

 

Often you will find in the Bible that the fruit of hope is shown in love.

Colossians 1:4-5 (Amplified Bible) For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] and of the love which you [have and show] for all the saints (God's consecrated ones),

⁵Because of the hope [of experiencing what is] laid up (reserved and waiting) for you in heaven. Of this [hope] you heard in the past in the message of the truth of the Gospel,

John Piper writes that the hope spoken about here in the Bible "teaches and shows that a strong confidence in the promises of God and a passionate preference for the joy of heaven over the joy of the world frees a person from self- centeredness, from paralyzing regret and self pity, from fear and greed and bitterness and despair and laziness and impatience and envy.  And in the place of all these sins, hope bears the fruit of love."

 

Faith leads to hope and this hope leads to love.  Piper points out that this love " is a public fruit; it is a fruit of hope; it is a fruit of the gospel; and it is a fruit of the Spirit.  And we have these tied together in a way that gives some practical guidance for our lives: give heed to the promises of God's Word; prayerfully rely on the Holy Spirit; set your affections on the hope laid up for you in heaven; and in the power of that hope, walk in love."

 

This season may we be freed from self centeredness, paralyzing regret, self pity, fear and greed and instead endeavor to spread the "thrill of hope".  May it bring joy to your little corner of the world.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Colossians 1:3-8 (New Living Translation)

Paul's Thanksgiving and Prayer

 ³ We always pray for you, and we give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴ For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God's people, ⁵ which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.

 ⁶ This same Good News that came to you is going out all over the world. It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God's wonderful grace.