IMPORTANCE OF OUR BEING HOPEFUL

[To hope: To stay, tarry, trust, and wait upon the Lord!] “Be strong and take heart, all you WHO HOPE IN THE LORD.” (Psa. 31:24) [David’s dependence upon God, spoken as a highlight, being a song of degrees, or climbing higher: “I wait for the Lord; from him I EXPECT RELIEF AND COMFORT, believing it will come, yearning until it does come, but patiently enduring the delay of it, and determined to look for it until it comes!] “YOU WILL SURELY FORGET YOUR TROUBLE, recalling it only as waters gone by. LIFE WILL BE BRIGHTER THAN NOONDAY, and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, BECAUSE THERE IS HOPE; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.” (Job 11:16-18) [I trust you Lord; entirely and completely!] “I wait for the LORD, MY WHOLE BEING WAITS, and in his word I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning…” (Psa. 130:5-6) [O! I thank my Abba Father for this very blessed hope!] “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, WHILE WE WAIT FOR THE BLESSED HOPE–THE APPEARING OF THE GLORY OF OUR GREAT GOD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST…” (Titus 2:11-13) [What a precious price was paid for our redemption that is why we have such hope!] “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that YOU WERE REDEEMED from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF CHRIST, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times FOR YOUR SAKE. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and SO YOUR FAITH AND HOPE ARE IN GOD.” (1 Pet. 1:18-23) [Paul prays for us to have wisdom and revelation so we may know what our Abba Father really expects from us!] “But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU TO GIVE THE REASON FOR THE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Pet. 3:15-16)

Be blessed as you praise The Lord, knowing that WE CAN ALWAYS BE PREPARED TO GIVE AN ANSWER TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS YOU FOR THE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE! -Bill Stockham