Full Assurance of Hope

Heb. 6:10-12
10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do. 11 And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

• When have you felt that no one notices your good works and love?
• What does showing love for God's name look like?
  
• Why does it take earnestness to hope to the end?
• What is full assurance of hope? How would you describe it?
  
• How might a Christian be sluggish in God's view?
• What is needed to inherit the promises waiting for you?

Harold's Musings:
I read a quote yesterday by Evan Esar: "Hope is tomorrow's veneer over today's disappointment." While I was at first indignant, I started to see that for many that is all hope is. Veneer is actually deception. There is a lower quality piece of wood being covered by a very thin layer of expensive wood. While it has the appearance of the real thing, it is not. If we do not have full assurance that what we hope for is in fact real, we too are just covering our disappointments. It does not take very long to get tired of enduring patiently if we do not really believe with full assurance that what is coming is sooooooooooo much better that what we have now. Fill up with assurance today.

Hold on to hope

Heb. 3:5-6, 12-14
5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.
12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

• How are the Christian's hope and confidence related?
• Why can we be confident in our hope?
  
• How often do you boast in your hope?
• What are the causes of falling away from God?
• What are you doing daily to encourage a fellow Christian to hang on and not sin?
• How are sinning and hopelessness connected?
• How long do we have to hold on?

Harold's Comments:
Wow! Such a tough passage! You and I are responsible for each other daily. It might seem that encouraging each other to not sin would involve watching to judge. Some seem to do that. This passage is more about confidence and hope which is entwined with our belief. I do not see a lot of Christians boasting to each other about the hope they share. Some yes, most no. I know that I am growing in this, but not where I would like to be. I would be interested in your thoughts as to how sinning and forgetting our hope are related. By the way, you and I have a great hope in Christ. Let's live it today.

Misplaced Hope

1 Tim. 6:17
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

• By the standards of most of the world's population, how rich are you?
• How much hope do you put on your riches?
• On a daily basis, how frequently do you put your hope on your riches instead of on God?
• Why does the uncertainty of riches tempt us to worry about money?
• Why does the certainty of God keep us from worrying about Him?
• Where is your hope?

Comments:
I suspect that this is one of the biggest problems many Christians face today. We worry about investments, retirement accounts, and insurance plans while not worrying about our dependence on God. I find this passage interesting in that it does not state that having money, even a lot of money, is wrong. The problem is within the person with the money. Are they proud of their possessions? Are they dependent on their wealth? If you put your hope in your wealth, are you laying up possessions here or in heaven? If your hope is in your wealth, will you not worry about it? Perhaps to the point that it is not what you seek first (Matt. 6:33).

Do you have a reason?

1 Peter 3:13-16

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

• How zealous are you for what is good?
  
• When you are attacked and suffering, how can you not be afraid and troubled?
  
• What does it mean to "in your hearts honor Christ the Lord"? How would this be evidenced?
  
• Is the hope that is in you evident to others around you? If so, how? If not, why not?
• How would you give a reason for the hope you have?
  
• How prepared are you today to make a gentle, respectful defense of your life in Christ?
  
• Why should you be careful in how you discuss Christ with non-Christians?
• How might your response to attacks put your attackers to shame?

Comments:
It is interesting to me how I have heard this passage slashed about over the years. To some, the word defense means to debate, argue, quarrel, or just get angry. Yet the passage ends with the attacker being ashamed for their actions, not licking their wounds. Somehow our desire to do good because Christ is our Lord is to be motivated by the hope that we have. That is the core reason. We are not doing good just to do good. We are doing good because of the hope we have. Isn't that what the passage shows when you read it carefully. My fears are frequently attached to momentary hopelessness. I'm afraid I'm going to miss a plane because there is liitle or no hope of making it to the gate on time. This connection between fear and hope needs to be considered more. I suspect our non-gentle responses are motivated by fear. What do you think?

Hope on layaway

Col. 1:3-5
3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,

• What is the motivation for faith and love?
• How did you come to know and realize that you could have hope?
• Where is the Christian's hope right now?
• What are the results of feeling hopeless?
• Why is does it seem so easy to become hopeless?
• How obvious is your hope to those around you; not optimism about life here, but hope in eternity?

Comments:
Have you ever purchased something on layaway? Not on a credit card where you have instant gratification, but you put some money down and keep paying regularly until it is finally yours. You know the item is yours. You do not have it now, but you know you will someday if you keep doing your part. This illustration is not perfect, but I think it carries some aspects of this verse. Why do you have faith and love? Is your faith and love motivated by the hope or by some other reason? What do you think?

Hope and Holiness

1 Peter 1:13-16
13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy."

• What are we to fix our hope on? To what degree?
• What else does this passage tell us to do?
• How do we fix our hope fully on the grace to come?
• When does this passage state we will receive grace?
• Why would fixing our hope on the grace to come be related to living holy lives?
• How is having your mind ready for action related to where your hope is set?
  
• How frequently is you mind girded for action, your spirit sober, your hope fixed on grace, and your life holy?

Comments
This is another indication that the hope in God's Word is unlike the hope that is casually mentioned in the conversations around us. Most of us wish-hope for a lot of things but never intend to do anything to get them. There are some hopes in our lives that, while uncertain, are desirable enough that we work and strive to get them. The hope here is certain but it should motivate us to be more than we have been. If you know you are going to be a parent in a few months, you make preparations, mentally and physically, because you know it is going to happen.

Rejoicing in hope

Romans 5:1-5
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

• What does this passage say we are to hope in?
  
• Why would it be your hope?
  
• What are we to exult or rejoice in?
  
• How is hope developed?
  
• Why is this progression necessary to develop this type of hope?
  
• How often do you find disappointment in the things you hope in?
  
• Why might you be ashamed when what you put you hope in fails?
  
• What percent of the time are your eyes fixed on the hope of eternity
  instead of the hope of tomorrow?
  

Comments
Imagine you decided to take all of your savings and invest it in a friend's "sure thing" investment. At first you probably feel good about your decision, maybe even proud of it. Time passes and the sure thing is revealed as a scam. Now what do you feel? In the same way we as humans put our hope in the physical here-and-now things of life. Someday we will find it was only a scam, or at best an unwise investment. How will we feel then?

For fun, re-read Rom 15:13 and see how the verses intertwine.

Not moved from your hope

Col. 1:21-23
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

• What does it feel like to be God's enemy?
• What does it feel like to be alienated from God?
• In this passage, what is involved in your being holy, blameless, and beyond reproach? How badly do you want this?
• What images come to mind from the phrases "stable", "steadfast", "not shifting away from"?
• What is the gospel that was proclaimed to all creation under heaven?
• What is the hope that motivates your life?

What is hope?

We hear the word hope all the time. "I hope he calls." "I hope the pizza will get here soon." "I hope I get a raise this year." The hope we usually talk about is more about wishing or wanting. There is a level of uncertainty involved. Sometimes it approaches fantasy with no expectation of it happening. We use the word hope carelessly and thoughtlessly.

Sometimes we use hope in more serious situations. "This new treatment is his only hope." "I hope the baby is healthy." Even when it is serious, there is still a level of uncertainty.

The worst situations in our lives are when things are hopeless. There is no expectation of things getting better. There is no expectation that your needs will be met. The feeling of hopelessness is one of the worst feelings a person can have.

God's Word uses hope differently. It is about certainty. Hope is the basis for our faith. Hope is the reason we do what we do for God. Hope causes us to love and trust. Hope is assurance that what we depend on will not fail.

Where is your hope today? In your job? In your retirement plan? In your health? I do not see much certainty there.

Is your hope in God and the great gift he gave to you? Are you hoping for the inheritance that is waiting for you in heaven? I see a lot of certainty there.

Hope you have a nice day. :-)

Living Hope

1 Peter 1:3-5
3 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, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

• How does the resurrection of Jesus give you hope?
• What is the difference between a living hope and some other hope?
• What is the difference between the hope in God's Word and wishful hope of our society?
  
• What does this passage state we can/should be hoping for?
• What protects you and how?
• At the functional level, what do you put your hope in? What are you most seriously hoping for?

Overflowing Hope

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. (ESV)

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. (NIV)

• What does trusting God mean to you? How is it seen?
• What god do you put your hope in? How do you know what god it is?
  
• How frequently do you feel joy and peace when faced with life's challenges and problems?
• What does hope mean to you? Does you definition need the power of the Holy Spirit to overflow in your life?
• To what degree would you like to have joy and peace and overflow with hope? What changes do you need to make to do so?

Chewing constantly

Joshua 1:7-8
7 Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

• How much strength and courage does it take to face your daily life?
• What image comes to mind from the challenge to not let God's word depart from your mouth?
• The Hebrew word for meditate is close to ruminate, which is what cows do as they chew their cud. How does change you image of the first sentance of verse 8?
• How is meditating/ruminating/chewing on God's Word different from merely reading it?
  
• How frequently do you meditate/ruminate/chew on God's word?
• What is the stated purpose for meditating on it?
• What definition of success and prosperity motivates your actions?
• How would constantly chewing on God's word influence your ideas about success?

How does God's Word hit you? Multiplying

Matthew 13:23

23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.

Mark 4:20

20 But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.

Luke 8:15

15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

• What is necessary for soil to be fruitful?
  
• What does the fruit from God's word look like?
  
• What is necessary for God's word to bear fruit in your life?
  
• How do the following work together: hearing, understanding, and accepting?
  
• Why is an honest heart necessary? (see previous blog entry)
  
• What would you think of a plot of land that produced one crop and then stopped?
  
• Why is perseverance in bearing fruit needed?
  
• How much of you is hard path? How much of you is shallow and rocky? How much of you is weed infested? How much of you is good soil?
  
• What can you do to improve your soil?
  

How does God's Word hit you? In the rough

Matthew 13:22

22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Mark 4:18-19

18 And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Luke 8:14

14 And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature.

• How do the worries, riches, and desires choke God's word?
• What image comes to mind when you read "choke the word"?
• What is the result of God's word being choked? How is this different from the falling away due to temptation or persecution?
• How does worry keep you from obeying God's word? In what other ways does worry keep God's word from being fruitful in your life?
• How do riches keep you from obeying God's word? In what other ways does riches keep God's word from being fruitful in your life?
• How do the desires and pleasures of life keep you from obeying God's word? In what other ways do desires and pleasures keep God's word from being fruitful in your life?
• What percentage of your life is hard path? What percent is rocky soil? What percent is weed infested?
• What fruit is God expecting from his Word? What does immature fruit look like?

How does God's Word hit you? Rocky

Matthew 13:20-21
20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

Mark 4:16-17
16 And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. 17 And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.

Luke 8:13
13 And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away.

• What is the basic problem of this soil?
  
• Do you believe this passage applies more to others than to yourself?
  
• What things from God's word have you tried to do but found them too
  difficult?
  
• What sin have you confidently stated you were not going to do again
  but the internal affliction overcame you?
  
• Why does God's word grow deep in some areas of your life but quickly
  dies in others?
  
• What areas of your life have you tried to apply God's word but found
  it too hard, too painful, or not rewarding enough?
  
• What percentage of your life is hard path? What percent is rocky
  soil?

How does God's Word hit you?

Matthew 13:19
19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path.

Mark 4:14-15
14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.

Luke 8:11-12
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. 12 The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

• What did the path hearers do with God's Word?
• What areas of your life are hardened like the path?
• When you hear the word of truth about these areas, what happens to it?
• Why are you more comfortable thinking of this passage as a "new hearer" passage than a "new crop" passage?
• In Ps 119, David cherished God's word. How can Satan take away God's word if you cherish it?
• What does Satan want to prevent you from doing when you hear God's word in these hard heart areas?

The standard is high

Deuteronomy 6:4-9
4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

• What part of your life is allowed to be untouched by God's words?
• What does your environment say about who your God is?
• What does your conversation say about who your God is?
• How does merely surrounding yourself with Christian stuff achieve what God wants?
• What would your life look like if you were striving to live up to this passage?
• What does this passage say about what God really wants from you?

After 6 years, I've decided to restart

Beginning in the mid-1990's, each work day I emailed a few friends a passage from the Bible and included a few questions intended to help them either gain a deeper understanding or challenge them apply it to their lives. At the end of 2000, the few friends had grown substantially. For a variety of reasons, including email list management, I decided to stop sending out God's Message.

Recently I have felt an urging to restart. Part of my "day job" is to look at collaboration and knowledge management. I think this venue of blogging will be much better than the "old-fashion" email list. Now you will have an opportunity to share your insight and experience as well as learn from others. I'm learning how this medium works so there will likely be changes in how I do this over time. Please be patient...it is a fruit of the Spirit, you know.

I plan to revisit some of the old topics from before as well as add new topics and studies over time. I expect that some days there will be more commenting on my part than questions. I pray that these musings will be helpful to you and your walk in Christ.