THE WORD OF HOPE

February 7

Psalms 119:49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

At certain times in our lives, a Word comes to all of us that causes us to hope in God’s purpose. It’s a Word that brings with it the courage to challenge high seawaters and bring God’s ship to port. This Word compels us to leave the comforts of Ur and of Egypt (Genesis 12:1; Hebrews 11:27)) and go walk paths unknown with the sole purpose of following and honoring the God that created and called us to His greater purpose.

When life’s road is long and hard, we tend to forget the Word that caused us to hope. As we climb the mountain of His will, we lose sight of the heavenly vision, of the goal that propelled us to endanger life and limb for the ideal of God, and we want to return to comfort and security.

At such times my friend, my fellow pilgrim, let us look into the book of Promises. Let us inspire and encourage ourselves with the stories of old, of how God supplied for His children on the road to Canaan. Let us remember how He honored those who did not trust in the uncertain riches of mammon, but put their confidence in Him who owns the cattle on a thousand hills (Psalms 50:10). Oh, how the book of Promises will renew our vision as we read of those who did not trust in their own arm for salvation, but who totally and fully trusted in the Lord their God who had sent them.

Is God dead? Can He repeat today the same wonders He has done in the past Is He the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8)? Oh, my friend, He is more alive today that ever. Let us dare to trust Him, dare to challenge Him to keep His promises. We will see Him as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and, rejoicing as a strong man to run a race (Psalms 19:5). We will see Him ready at any moment to impress us his beloved bride with the power of His might and the bounty of His wealth.

Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.