Hope Leads
Text: Hebrews 6:16-20
Theme: Because of God’s unchanging promise and oath, our hope gives us confidence to enter God’s very presence.
Key verses: “So God has given both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us. This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary. Jesus has already gone in there for us…” (v. 18-20a).
What God said to me: Good Sunday morning! Love our times together. Do you feel encouraged and hopeful this morning? You should! Do you feel secure and steadfast in the midst of a dangerous and unpredictable world? You are! Do you sense my presence with you and my grace to help you in your time of need? You can! Dwayne, do you know you are forgiven for your sins through the blood shed by my Son? You are! I have promised. I have bound myself with an oath. I cannot lie. There is no one greater than me to swear by. I will not break my promises. I have established a covenant with my children that will not be broken. When you start to sway and falter by waves of doubt and discouragement, dig your anchor deeper into the truth of my Word. When you sin and fail me, remember my merciful promise to always love you. When you wonder if I still hear your prayers and still care for you deeply, remember the sacrifice of my Son for you. Reflect on how I watched him bleed and die. Return to my mercy seat for the grace and reassurance you need each day. I will never leave you or forsake you. I love you with an everlasting love. Let hope lead you into my manifest presence, into my holy of holies. This promise is not for the sweet by and by. This reality is available to you 24/7 in the here and now. Let hope arise in your heart and mind. Meditate on my promises so you won’t suffer defeat. I am with you! I am for you! I am your hope.
What I said to God: Father, I praise You for meeting with me this morning. I have not vetted every word that I claim You “said” to me today in this QT journal. Without more diligent study, I can not pretend to know if everything I have written is accurate. However, I do know that because of You I have eternal hope–not just for the life to come, but also in this earthly life. I know I have immediate access into Your presence before Your throne. I know this because Your Son has already gone before me. He paid the ultimate price so we can be saved forever. Thank You for that. I commit this day and this week to You. Please use me and my family to share Your love with someone who needs to experience it this week.