Week of 4/16

CRUSADER’S DEVOTIONAL

04-16-2013/ Hope

Have ya ever seen that person walking around look’n as helpless as a cow in quicksand, or like a gun fighter with one bullet? Or maybe some one feeling like the ugliest mare ever foaled? You can see it in their face and feel it in the air around them. God gets us in deep water not to drown us but to cleanse us.

I was standin and lookin at a colt that a friend was making plans for. “If I could just teach him to move off this leg. One day I’ll move him to this bit. He will be rein’n off the neck in no time.” I turned and looked at her, and she says “least I’m hopin for that anyway. A little hard work and dust mixed with sweaty saddle blankets anything is possible right? Least that’s what I’m plan’n for.” I said to her “if any one can do it you can”.

What came to me most was not her plans or her enthusiasm, but that her heart felt hope. Hope for her, hope for her horse and hope in their bringing it together. It is hope that changes us; it is hope that changes the world. Most people think of hope as wishful thinking. That is not what the bible means by hope.

The biblical definition of hope is “confident expectations”. Hope is firm assurance regarding things that are unclear and unknown. Without hope, life loses its meaning. (Lam.3:18). As expectant as a sparrow watchin’ a worm hole, that’s what makes for a believer not thinking if but when. Hope in the return of Christ is the basis for believers to purify themselves in this life. As we have hope in God, he has hope in us. “Now in this hope we are saved, yet hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with patience.”(Rom. 24-25).

Certainty of this blessed future is found in trustworthy promises from God gives us hope. We may boast in this hope and boldness in our faith. “Those who do not place their trust in God are said to be without hope.”(Eph.2:12). A virtue of the Christian life, love comes from hope. “Hope produces joy and peace in believers through the power of the spirit.” (Rom. 15:13)

Part of showing love is hoping and part of hoping is seeing potential in others and ourselves.If you ever had a person believe in you and share a hopeful attitude for your future the you have experienced some of what (1 Cor. 13:7) teaches. As long as there is love there will be hope.

Remember: it don’t take a genius to spot a goat in a flock of sheep. 

May God Comfort you with all the hope that has been promised.

In the name of Jesus Christ of the Nazarene.

Cowboy Pastor, Ty