DADS. With the many things we often place our “HOPE" in, there is always a winner and loser.
HOPE in friends…jobs...sports teams…parents…things. All temporary. All disappoint.
Even placing all our HOPE in those that love us will at some point fall short and NOT be enough.
Difference between being HOPEFUL vs HOPE-FILLED
HOPEFUL = Something we wish for
HOPE-Filled = Something we already have. Never leaves us. Never runs out. HOPE in Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:13 (NIV)
13 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 Spirit.
THE 1ST STEP IS...“Humility”
James 4:10 (NIV)
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
When we humble ourselves DADS, we will see clearly our purpose in Christ.
In our purpose we feel become hope-“filled"
I just returned from the Dominican Republic…even in the midst of much poverty…I saw hope. It was so evident in their outward humility not just because of circumstances, but through their circumstances and struggles many have found Christ.
Becoming a Christian doesn’t always change your circumstances…but it can change how you see it and live it out.
What I found in abundance in the DR…was this humility of the people. None had much to give…but what they had they wanted to share or even give away
DADS…we cannot let go sometimes…we say "I got this."
Truth.
We can do it.
But cannot do it alone long. No one is an island.
When we do realize we need others…we often go a place where we put our hope in others and into things so deeply…we then have “misplaced" hope.
Humility
That we do need God’s people and
we need Christ!
Giving Him our pain, passion and purpose. Humility that we need Christ is the first step to achieving real hope.
How do we PRACTICE our humility? Many ways. Here are three ways to work on today:
1) Take wrong patiently (1 Peter 3:8-17). When something is unjust we want to react and rectify it. However, patiently responding to the unjust accusations and actions of others demonstrates our strength of godly character and provides an opportunity to put on humility.
13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats[b]; do not be frightened.”[c] 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,
2) Actively submit to authority…the good and the bad (1 Peter 2:18). Our culture does not value submission; rather it promotes individualism. How purposely and actively do you work on submission to those whom God has placed as authorities in your life? Doing so is a good way to humble yourself.
3) Be quick to forgive (Matthew 18: 21-35). Forgiveness is possibly one of the greatest acts of humility we can do. To forgive is to acknowledge a wrong that has been done us and also to further release our right of repayment for the wrong. Forgiveness is denial of self. Forgiveness is not insisting on our way and our justice.
DADS…start TODAY!
Be PATIENT!
SUBMIT!
FORGIVE!
HOPE IS ETERNAL.
HUMILITY is the 1st STEP!
Suiting up!
Jeff
