Hope: July 28, 2010

Today's Word for Wednesday July 28, 2010

HOPE

DEFINITION

Expect or look forward to with desire and confidence; expectation or something desired; what is hoped for.

SCRIPTURE

"You are my hope, O Lord God; you are my trust from my youth." Psalm 71:5

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Most of us are not aware that the ancient road from Jerusalem to Jericho was a narrow, treacherous path along a deep gorge in the Judean wilderness. Its name was Wadi Kelt but it was known as the valley of the shadow.

This was the location that inspired David to write the 23rd Psalm. The place in itself offers little reason to compose such a Psalm that is known as a hopeful Psalm. The landscape is bleak, barren and dangerously steep. It was well known as a place for thieves to hang out and wait for travelers going by.

When David wrote Psalm 23 verse four, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil," he was in a place where evil was a reality. David refused to give in to fear. David was not expressing hope that God would abolish the evil of that place so that he could pass through safely. He knew that God was going to walk through that valley with him. He was saying that the presence of God was giving him the confidence to pass through difficult places without fear of being deserted by our Lord. And in Psalm 71:5, David says that the Lord is our hope.

As Christians our hope is in the Lord, so that we can have that same assurance that David had, that the Lord is with us. When we have to go through our times of fear and uncertainty God will not desert us.

Many people we talk to in our world talk like they have hope. They will say they have hope that tomorrow will be better. They also might say they have hope that their business will improve. They also often say that they hope their child will mature and get out of his or her evil ways. That kind of hope is more like wishful thinking.

YES, many claim to have hope in this old sinful world that we live in but let us make one thing certain, only those that have their HOPE in Christ can claim it with certainty. Hope does not come from strength, intelligence, hard work, good works or even favorable circumstances but HOPE comes from the Lord and Him alone. He alone has the right to promise hope as he did to David and the power to keep that promise. Where is your hope? Is it in the Lord?

LEARNING

Our memory verse for this week is found in John 3:3.

Jesus answered and said unto him, "Most assuredly I say unto you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

PRAYER

Thank You dear Lord that I have the certainty in my heart that You are my hope. May I have as David had, the certainty of You being with me through every trial I face. May my life shine brightly with the glory of hope that You have given me.