To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27 (NIV)
There are so many people who have hope in this world. And there are many who have lost all hope based on things they have seen or experienced. I wanted to write a devotional expressing the hope each of us as Christians can, and should have. One is called The Hope of Glory, and the other is called The Blessed Hope. In part I, we will look at the hope of glory.
The first thing we should note here is there is a difference in hope as the world defines it, from the hope that is from God. The world thinks of hope as the wishful thinking of things that are desired. It is something, which someone wants to happen or occur. But it is not guaranteed, so it is only a hope. One might even cross his or her fingers and have as good a chance of it occurring in some cases. This is hope as defined by the worlds understanding.
Gods hope is different. Gods definition of hope tells us when we have a hope in something according to His word, then we have:
"An assurance
"A guarantee
"A certainty of something actually happening.
"A confidence properly placed in that transpiring.
And this is because God is the one who has made the promise, and the guarantee.
So, as Christians, we can have confidence in having hope in everything we do in life, knowing God has given us a promise. The scripture above has told us, we have been enlightened and educated of Gods glorious riches of what was previously a mystery.
Q:What is this Mystery?
A:The mystery is Christ living in you.
Jesus Christ lives in you once you have received Him into yourself by accepting Him as your personal Lord and Savior. We now have the fullness of the Word of God, proclaimed by Jesus as He came to the earth to deliver this message and to die for our sin. The Apostles proclaimed this message as well. No longer was Gods plan of salvation and empowerment for living a righteous life a hidden mystery.
The mystery Paul is referring to in the scripture above has been revealed. And it is of Gods plan to have Jesus inside the hearts of all who believe in Him. And because of this, we have the hope of Glory.
Q:What is the hope of Glory?
A:Well Glory means great honor, praise, and thanksgiving offered in worship; splendor and majestic beauty. Glory refers to heaven, and heavenly things of God.
This is great news for us, as Christians, because we know Jesus is in our hearts, and the Holy Spirit is living within our bodies. So, we now have a true hope (the assurance, confidence and the guarantee) of Glory, (the heavenly things) which God has given to us. We can now face all of our tests and trials with confidence, knowing God will stand with us and empower us to face each and every challenge; assuring us of victory according to His perfect plan.
This is a proper biblical perspective from a Christian view of why we should be positive in the face of opposition within our lives. This is confidence properly placed. This is our heritage given to all who have been born again.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the worldour faith. 1John 5:4 (NKJV)
Its a great blessing to be given the knowledge of victory even before the battle has begun. It is something divinely given to those He loves, allowing us to change our entire outlook at life. Knowing our God has specifically allowed each situation and formulated a perfect plan as well.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Corinthians 15:57 (NKJV)
STUDY QUESTION: What kind of Hope can we derive from the scriptures above?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Have you found at times, you have put your hope in improper things?
APPLICATION: Reexamine the scriptures so you may truly know the meaning of the Hope of Glory. Once you understand youve been given a guarantee of success in every situation, according to the perfect will of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit to enable you to do what youve been asked; you will have hope in the outcome of every test you face.
There are so many people who have hope in this world. And there are many who have lost all hope based on things they have seen or experienced. I wanted to write a devotional expressing the hope each of us as Christians can, and should have. One is called The Hope of Glory, and the other is called The Blessed Hope. In part I, we will look at the hope of glory.
The first thing we should note here is there is a difference in hope as the world defines it, from the hope that is from God. The world thinks of hope as the wishful thinking of things that are desired. It is something, which someone wants to happen or occur. But it is not guaranteed, so it is only a hope. One might even cross his or her fingers and have as good a chance of it occurring in some cases. This is hope as defined by the worlds understanding.
Gods hope is different. Gods definition of hope tells us when we have a hope in something according to His word, then we have:
"An assurance
"A guarantee
"A certainty of something actually happening.
"A confidence properly placed in that transpiring.
And this is because God is the one who has made the promise, and the guarantee.
So, as Christians, we can have confidence in having hope in everything we do in life, knowing God has given us a promise. The scripture above has told us, we have been enlightened and educated of Gods glorious riches of what was previously a mystery.
Q:What is this Mystery?
A:The mystery is Christ living in you.
Jesus Christ lives in you once you have received Him into yourself by accepting Him as your personal Lord and Savior. We now have the fullness of the Word of God, proclaimed by Jesus as He came to the earth to deliver this message and to die for our sin. The Apostles proclaimed this message as well. No longer was Gods plan of salvation and empowerment for living a righteous life a hidden mystery.
The mystery Paul is referring to in the scripture above has been revealed. And it is of Gods plan to have Jesus inside the hearts of all who believe in Him. And because of this, we have the hope of Glory.
Q:What is the hope of Glory?
A:Well Glory means great honor, praise, and thanksgiving offered in worship; splendor and majestic beauty. Glory refers to heaven, and heavenly things of God.
This is great news for us, as Christians, because we know Jesus is in our hearts, and the Holy Spirit is living within our bodies. So, we now have a true hope (the assurance, confidence and the guarantee) of Glory, (the heavenly things) which God has given to us. We can now face all of our tests and trials with confidence, knowing God will stand with us and empower us to face each and every challenge; assuring us of victory according to His perfect plan.
This is a proper biblical perspective from a Christian view of why we should be positive in the face of opposition within our lives. This is confidence properly placed. This is our heritage given to all who have been born again.
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the worldour faith. 1John 5:4 (NKJV)
Its a great blessing to be given the knowledge of victory even before the battle has begun. It is something divinely given to those He loves, allowing us to change our entire outlook at life. Knowing our God has specifically allowed each situation and formulated a perfect plan as well.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Corinthians 15:57 (NKJV)
STUDY QUESTION: What kind of Hope can we derive from the scriptures above?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Have you found at times, you have put your hope in improper things?
APPLICATION: Reexamine the scriptures so you may truly know the meaning of the Hope of Glory. Once you understand youve been given a guarantee of success in every situation, according to the perfect will of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit to enable you to do what youve been asked; you will have hope in the outcome of every test you face.
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