Home »
The incorruptible word of God, that comes to you this day as a word in season, will accomplish the purpose for which it is sent. And may you be drawn closer to Him to walk in the race set before you, as we meditate upon His promise – But those who seek the Lord shall lack no good thing. [Psalms 34:10] Hope – holy Spirit – love, is how the goodness of God becomes your experience, as the Holy Spirit leads you into all truth making spiritual reality your natural reality. It is the encouraging truth of God’s word, as Paul writes to the Thessalonians May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and by His hope gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage you and strengthen you in every good deed and word. [2 Thessalonians 2:16,17] He gives in you a good hope, through His good word that bears fruit in a good work in and through the Spirit in you. It is established in you through
Eternal love —->eternal comfort:
God has loved you with an everlasting love that reflects in you as an eternal encouragement, that has two aspects to it Consolation concerning your past, and, encouragement concerning what needs to happen.
Consolation:
It is looking through the lens of the eternal purposes of the God who knows the end from the beginning that brings clarity and comfort in you, if your present circumstance appears to be causing you to think that He has forgotten you. For you can find your rest in the knowledge of the sovereign control of the God who causes all things to work together for the good of those who who love Him and have been called according to His purpose. [Romans 8:28]
God causes:
He is the infinite, Almighty God who knows far beyond what you can now see happening in your life. And He is your Father, who loves you and cares for you, and will do what is right and best for you. Circumstances change, but God never changes. And He never changes His plan for you. Rather, He changes you, brings reconciliation in your heart. Job had many questions in his extremely painful situation. But God’s answer was to ask him many more greater and higher questions. And Job repented, declaring unto the Lord that he had spoken of things he did not understand, things too wonderful for him to know. It has been rightly said that as a Christian, you may at times have questions and no answers, on this side of heaven. And in heaven there will be answers, but you will no longer have any questions welling up in you, only overwhelming peace and joy.
The Lord upholds:
He delights in every minute detail of your life, to watch over you. If the Lord delights in a man’s way, He makes His steps firm. [Psalms 37:23] But the reality of life is that one does stumble at times. And even in such a scenario, your foot maybe slipping, but the Lord will reach out a helping hand to steady you, that you may not fall. [Verse 24] The sinful nature in you can try to make you fall, giving in you the inclination to sin, but it is at that point that the Lord holding your hand will keep you from falling into sin.
His word, His hand:
To the man at the pool of Bethesda, lying paralyzed for thirty eight years, who had many reasons for not being able to get into the pool to be healed, the Lord had to just speak the word, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’. And he arose and walked. It was what he testified to the Pharisees, when they criticized him later for breaking the rules of the sabbath. [John 5:1-11] But some times you may need a helping hand to be lifted up. And you may have hands that accuse you coming against you. But, there is a hand that is stretched forth towards you, a nail scarred hand, and by His stripes you have been healed. May you give thanks to the Lord, that through it all, He has held your hand, by His grace and His mercy, to satisfy you with long life, showing the goodness of His salvation.
Encouragement for the future:
When I said, ‘My foot is slipping’, your love O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy within my soul. [Psalms 94:18,19] Peter was walking on water, but found himself sinking, and did the right thing. He offered a quick prayer for help, and received from the Lord an immediate response, a godly reflex, His hand reaching out to help him. And even this day, He will lift you up, when your situation seems precarious. And anxious thoughts can begin with one, but quickly multiply when given room, is what you can easily identify with the psalmist. [Verse 19] It is when the consolation from God, brings encouragement and delight, chasing away the discouragement and worrying thoughts that could be pulling you down. And as the psalmist himself has narrated, it is by the word that He speaks to you, that His eternal comfort becomes your portion that gives delight, that you too may say, It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I might learn your decrees. [Psalms 119:71] Only your learning experiences cause a positive change in you, promoting you, taking you from where you are to something greater that God has prepared for you, your divine destiny. The Israelites spent forty years in the wilderness, and yet could not learn the one lesson that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. They could not move forward into the promised land, all but two of them. But it was the first temptation that the Lord overcame in the wilderness! And therefore, you and I have hope in Him; hope that will not disappoint.
Good hope – good word – good work:
It is seen exemplified so powerfully in the words of the apostle Paul, that you and I may be strengthened and encouraged
Good hope:
I eagerly expect and hope, that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always, Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life pr death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. [Philippians 1:20,21]
Good word:
In the midst of the raging storm that threatened the lives of everyone in the ship, Paul declared the word that God spoke to him, to give them hope – [Acts 27:22-25] But now I urge you, to keep up your courage, because not one of you will be lost. [Verse 22]
Good work:
God fulfilled His word to Paul, and – For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ. [Acts 28:30,31] He continued teaching about Christ, to do the good work that God had spoken, His good word. God never gives up, is the wonderful lesson that it teaches you. A lesson that is His desire that you may learn, as you reach out for His hand, His nail scarred hand that is stretched forth towards you to help you learn that you may move forward from where you are to where He wants you to be. His hand is stronger. And He will never let go, as you continue to learn, through the word that He has spoken. And may it permeate deep within you, that it may take root, to bear fruit in your life, that He may be glorified. In the Name of Christ Jesus Amen.
