last week i told you that we would look at Hope during this edition and it shows how remarkable God's timing truly is.
just days ago, we the people, voted in an african american man for our president elect. regardless of where you sit on the political front, it is a great testimony to the progress of a nation in a positive direction. a direction that has been long overdue. we aren't going to discuss policies or any sort of political programs but we are going to discuss HOPE.
this change marks a monumental day of HOPE for all people.
imagine if you can -- a television in the heart of the projects is tuned in to watch a man speak to the nation. in front of this TV, a young african american girl sits, eyes wide with amazement, and ears intent on listening.
she watches and listens.
the speech is finished. her heart swells with something she can't describe. her mom, fresh home from a 14 hour day, tells her, "go to bed. you've got school tomorrow." she runs and jumps into her bed, excited about tomorrow because she has seen that her dreams are a possibility. she just watched a man who had the same skin color as her become a leader, but not just any leader.
suddenly she has HOPE again. HOPE not given to her by a man, not from a nation, but HOPE from God.
her morning, when she awakes, will be brighter than ever before. her cereal will have never tasted better.
HOPE does funny things to people.
it makes them speak out against injustice knowing great resistance lies ahead, if certainly not death.
Christ knew this HOPE. without HOPE driving us to pursue our heart's cry, we have empty motivation.
just over 45 years ago a pastor stood in our nation's capital and called the nation to HOPE. he called the world to see that there is still HOPE in the souls of people and he would ask them to change.
this pastor proclaimed the Gospel message that we must cling to and it's this message that brings our nation HOPE.
a message that all men are equal.
a message of raising up the oppressed.
a message of Love.
we are on our way up to the mountaintop that Dr. King spoke so passionately about. HOPE in what could be drives us to take the next step up that steep climb.
forget politics. forget where you align as a "conservative" or "democrat" and raise up HOPE again in our nation.
a HOPE founded in CHRIST. don't place your HOPE in policies or law to change the hearts of people. put your HOPE in the restoration that only CHRIST can bring.
regardless of whether you are ecstatic or beside yourself with the results of the election, You and I are called to be outside the lines of political parties moving to change the world from the ground up; one person at a time. this is our HOPE. HOPE that all people will know Christ.
christianity isn't political; it never was meant to be. disciples didn't overthrow the Roman Empire through government, they overthrew the message of the Empire and focused on the people around them.
christianity is a movement.
it's grassroots.
it's done on the ground, in our workplaces, and in our homes.
following Christ changes the lives of people around us. it changes their soul. this is what the disciples put their faith in -- the HOPE of the atoning blood of Christ revealed to people by God. trust in the sovereignty of God and put your HOPE in the Gospel message of love, mercy, grace, peace, kindness, and joy. it should be this HOPE that moves us.
the apostle Paul tells us, "through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have HOPE." before this Paul was talking about helping the weak by shouldering some of their failings on ourselves. then he tells us that all that has been written was for them to have what they needed to go on and that should give them HOPE.
he continues in this chapter in romans to urge us to accept one another as Christ accepted us, and that the HOPE of all people is found in Christ.
Paul then says, "may the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirt."
HOPE is rooted in Christ.
HOPE will not fail you.
HOPE is not false.
HOPE is what we must cling to.
HOPE that people will come to know the beauty of a relationship with Christ.
HOPE that believers can unite to serve God regardless of their denominational affiliation, gender or race.
HOPE in the revealing Word of God.
HOPE in our weaknesses and our failures.
today may YOU SEE HOPE IN ALL THINGS.
may your words be spoken with Love.
may your thoughts be intent on Christ.
may HOPE drive you to do more.
in all you do
speak HOPE
teach HOPE
breathe HOPE
just days ago, we the people, voted in an african american man for our president elect. regardless of where you sit on the political front, it is a great testimony to the progress of a nation in a positive direction. a direction that has been long overdue. we aren't going to discuss policies or any sort of political programs but we are going to discuss HOPE.
this change marks a monumental day of HOPE for all people.
imagine if you can -- a television in the heart of the projects is tuned in to watch a man speak to the nation. in front of this TV, a young african american girl sits, eyes wide with amazement, and ears intent on listening.
she watches and listens.
the speech is finished. her heart swells with something she can't describe. her mom, fresh home from a 14 hour day, tells her, "go to bed. you've got school tomorrow." she runs and jumps into her bed, excited about tomorrow because she has seen that her dreams are a possibility. she just watched a man who had the same skin color as her become a leader, but not just any leader.
suddenly she has HOPE again. HOPE not given to her by a man, not from a nation, but HOPE from God.
her morning, when she awakes, will be brighter than ever before. her cereal will have never tasted better.
HOPE does funny things to people.
it makes them speak out against injustice knowing great resistance lies ahead, if certainly not death.
Christ knew this HOPE. without HOPE driving us to pursue our heart's cry, we have empty motivation.
just over 45 years ago a pastor stood in our nation's capital and called the nation to HOPE. he called the world to see that there is still HOPE in the souls of people and he would ask them to change.
this pastor proclaimed the Gospel message that we must cling to and it's this message that brings our nation HOPE.
a message that all men are equal.
a message of raising up the oppressed.
a message of Love.
we are on our way up to the mountaintop that Dr. King spoke so passionately about. HOPE in what could be drives us to take the next step up that steep climb.
forget politics. forget where you align as a "conservative" or "democrat" and raise up HOPE again in our nation.
a HOPE founded in CHRIST. don't place your HOPE in policies or law to change the hearts of people. put your HOPE in the restoration that only CHRIST can bring.
regardless of whether you are ecstatic or beside yourself with the results of the election, You and I are called to be outside the lines of political parties moving to change the world from the ground up; one person at a time. this is our HOPE. HOPE that all people will know Christ.
christianity isn't political; it never was meant to be. disciples didn't overthrow the Roman Empire through government, they overthrew the message of the Empire and focused on the people around them.
christianity is a movement.
it's grassroots.
it's done on the ground, in our workplaces, and in our homes.
following Christ changes the lives of people around us. it changes their soul. this is what the disciples put their faith in -- the HOPE of the atoning blood of Christ revealed to people by God. trust in the sovereignty of God and put your HOPE in the Gospel message of love, mercy, grace, peace, kindness, and joy. it should be this HOPE that moves us.
the apostle Paul tells us, "through endurance and the encouragement of the scriptures we might have HOPE." before this Paul was talking about helping the weak by shouldering some of their failings on ourselves. then he tells us that all that has been written was for them to have what they needed to go on and that should give them HOPE.
he continues in this chapter in romans to urge us to accept one another as Christ accepted us, and that the HOPE of all people is found in Christ.
Paul then says, "may the God of HOPE fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with HOPE by the power of the Holy Spirt."
HOPE is rooted in Christ.
HOPE will not fail you.
HOPE is not false.
HOPE is what we must cling to.
HOPE that people will come to know the beauty of a relationship with Christ.
HOPE that believers can unite to serve God regardless of their denominational affiliation, gender or race.
HOPE in the revealing Word of God.
HOPE in our weaknesses and our failures.
today may YOU SEE HOPE IN ALL THINGS.
may your words be spoken with Love.
may your thoughts be intent on Christ.
may HOPE drive you to do more.
in all you do
speak HOPE
teach HOPE
breathe HOPE
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