Your future is in His hands.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
--1 Peter 1:3-4
In these troubling times, have you ever wondered if we can really be hopeful about the future? I want to assure you that it is possible to live with hope, despite what may be going on around us.
Because while hope is ultimately about the future, it’s also about the present. And that’s because we have a living hope.
Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ we have hope. It’s because He lives that hope can reside in your heart if you’re a Christian.
And because of that, there is no need to fear the future! If you are a child of God, you are chosen and called by Him. You’re not an accident, an afterthought, or a mistake. You have been in the heart and mind of God forever, and He has already been planning and preparing your future.
In fact, God knows the end from the beginning… and everything else in your life. That’s comforting when we face tough times and when we’re tempted to give up. It’s encouraging to know that we are never, ever without hope!
So today, if you’re tempted to give up on your marriage, don’t! If you’re thinking about giving up on your kids, don’t! If you want to give up on your dreams… or even life itself… don’t!
Remember that you have a living hope that is working in your past, your present, and your future. And as the Scripture teaches us in Romans chapter 5, that hope does not disappoint!
Today, give God thanks for keeping your future in His hands!
Monday, June 17, 2019
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”
Luke 16:8–10
Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar made news when he auctioned off NBA championship rings, signed basketballs, and other memorabilia and raised nearly $3 million for his Skyhook Foundation to promote education for children. Abdul-Jabbar wrote, “Looking back on what I have done with my life, instead of gazing at the sparkle of jewels or gold plating celebrating something I did a long time ago, I’d rather look into the delighted face of a child holding their first caterpillar and think about what I might be doing for their future. That’s a history that has no price.” The basketball star is not a Christian, but practices Islam. Yet even without Christ’s promises regarding investing in eternity, he understands that there are some things which are more important than others.
We do not all have the same physical talents, spiritual gifts, or financial means. However, we do all have the same number of hours in a day. The question is how we will invest that most precious resource God has entrusted to us. Will we spend our lives on things that matter both for this world and the next, or will we waste our lives on things that have no real value or meaning? One day God will judge everything that we have done to see what value it holds. “If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire”(1 Corinthians 3:15).
Today's Growth Principle:
Make sure you are using your time and resources for things that have real and lasting value.
|
No comments:
Post a Comment