Thursday, June 3, 2010

Got Hope?

Proverbs 23: 17-18, “Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the Lord. There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off!"

Being zealous for the Lord is not always easy.  It seems that sometimes we have to take the long way around in order to make right decisions for our lives.  And, in our hearts, we sometimes do envy sinners in such a way, that it will cause us to make unwise decisions.  We like to say, “Well he/she did it this way and they turned out ok?”  But, were they zealous after the Lord, truly searching for the will of God in their lives, being wise and righteous before Him?  Our envy makes us feel like the good people finish last. I am learning that we are not finishing last; we are running a different race!  Racing for the Lord, running after Him, to obtain His presence in our lives!

The Lord wants to give us hope.  For too long, we have walked around full of doubt and confusion.  If we doubt, we are not walking by faith.  And, confusion is just a form of fear.  Remember that the Lord does not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and a sound mind (2Tim 1:7).

My favorite passage of scripture in the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts I have toward you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you future and a hope!” What a promise! Listen, He has thoughts of peace about you and not evil thoughts. We too often let bad circumstances justify our future. That’s our stinking thinking. He has thoughts of peace.  He doesn’t look at the past. Why? To give you a future and a hope!  Continue to be zealous for the fear of the Lord.  There is a future, and there is hope!  Your hope will not be cut off!

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