DRAWING NEAR
August 26
Hoping in God
"[Love] hopes all things" (1 Cor. 13:7).
Love refuses to take human failure as final.
Even when faith falters, hope comes to the rescue. It is that long
rope that keeps us linked to the sovereignty and power of God.
The apostle Peter wrote to believers who were experiencing severe
trials. To encourage them he began, "Blessed be the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us
to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead" (1 Pet. 1:3).
Our hope is a living hope because our God is a living God. No matter
how bleak your situation might seem, God is at work to accomplish His
purposes. As Christ hung on the cross, it seemed as if sin had
finally triumphed over righteousness. But sin's finest hour became
its death knell when Christ arose from the grave as Lord of life and
Redeemer of His people. Now "He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead
will also give life to your mortal [body] through His Spirit who
indwells you" (Rom. 8:11). Trials and death have no power over you.
They simply bring you closer to Christ.
When ministering to others, hope gives you confidence that as long as
there is life, human failure is never final. God refused to accept
Israel's failures; Jesus refused to accept Peter's; and Paul refused
to accept that of the Corinthians. When your attempts to cover the
sins of others have failed or your righteous expectations have been
shattered, hope says, "Don't give up. God can still work this out for
good."
Hope is illustrated in the true story of a dog who was abandoned at
the airport of a large city. He stayed there for over five years,
waiting for his master to return. People at the airport fed and cared
for him, but he refused to leave the spot where he last saw his
master. If a dog's love for his master can produce that kind of hope,
how much more should your love for God produce abiding hope?
Suggestions for Prayer:
Praise God for His sovereignty and power, and for the hope that is
yours in Christ.
For Further Study:
Read Psalm 42, noting how the psalmist related the distressing
circumstances of his life to his hope in God.
Drawing Near, Copyright 1993 John F. MacArthur, Jr.
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
http://www.gty.org
~~~
Psalm 42
1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You,
O God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and
appear before God?
3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually
say to me, "Where is your God?"
4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I
used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God,
With the voice of joy and praise, With a multitude that kept a
pilgrim feast.
5 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted
within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him For the help of
His countenance.
6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me; Therefore I will
remember You from the land of the Jordan, And from the heights of
Hermon, From the Hill Mizar.
7 Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your
waves and billows have gone over me.
8 The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in
the night His song shall be with me; A prayer to the God of my life.
9 I will say to God my Rock, "Why have You forgotten me? Why do I go
mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?"
10 As with a breaking of my bones, My enemies reproach me, While
they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"
11 Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted
within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my
countenance and my God.
These devotions are posted with permission from John MacArthur's
first (1993) devotional work, _Drawing Near_, and they are also sent
out daily for free to several folks via e-mail.
In addition, John's second (1997) devotional, _Strength for Today_,
is also available free via e-mail only. _Strength for Today_ follows
the same format as what you have seen here from _Drawing Near_, but
with different monthly themes.
If you would like to receive daily devotions via e-mail from either
of these series, just let me know (via e-mail), and I will gladly add
you to the list(s) of your choice.
You can hear John MacArthur daily via the Internet by visiting:
http://www2.oneplace.com/Ministries/Grace_to_You/
and
http://www.gty.org.uk/
You may email John MacArthur in care of Grace to You at:
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me, please contact me via e-mail for quickest results.
In Christ,
Peter
Peter G. Chase :: Columbus, Ohio, USA
pchase1@wideopenwest.com
STOP! Who do you think Jesus is?
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To forgive is to set a prisoner free, and to discover that the prisoner was you. -Alistair Begg
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