Thursday, October 30, 2014

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT RECALLING TO OUR MINDS AND HAVING HOPE"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT RECALLING TO OUR MINDS AND HAVING HOPE"

Lamentations 3:21 “This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.”

Lamentations 3:22 “Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.”

Lamentations 3:23 “They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”

Lamentations 3:25 “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.”

Lamentations 3:26 “It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.”

Taken from todays reading in The One Year Bible 10/30/14.

Some background, application, questions and a prayer:

Jeremiah wrote this book. It was his expression of sorrow for the destruction of Jerusalem because of their disobedience to God.
The nation of Judah had been taken captive by the Babylonians. Jeremiah wept and wept for them.
But, he also had moments of hope and encouragement such as is stated in the verses above.
If you are weeping today, may these be an encouragement to You.

1. We can recall to our minds the things of the Lord and have hope.

Lamentations 3:21 This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope.

We can know truths about God.
But we can forget truths about God.
Thus it's good for us to be reminded of the truths.
When we do remember these things, it brings hope into our lives.

2. Our God is merciful, and it’s because of His mercy that we are not consumed, and His compassions do not fail.

Lamentations 3:22 “Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not.”
Lamentations 3:23 “They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.”

Here are some truths about our God.
He is merciful. He does not give us what we deserve.
It's because of His mercy that we are not consumed.
And, the compassions, or mercies of the Lord do not fail
One other thing, God's mercies are new every morning.
God's Faithfulness or dependability is great.

3. God is our portion, He is good to us, and it's good for us to hope in Him and wait quietly for His salvation.

Lamentations 3:24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “Therefore I hope in Him!”

Lamentations 3:25 “The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him.”

Lamentations 3:26 “It is good that one should hope and wait quietly For the salvation of the LORD.”

Here are a few last truths and thoughts to be encouraged by.
God is our portion.
God is good to us.
It's good for us to have hope in Him.
And it's good for us to wait quietly for Him.

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him.
The Lord is good to the soul that seeks Him.

Finally, it is good that we should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

Questions:

1. Will you take just a few moments to re-read the verses above?

2. Guess what You will find as you do? You will find hope.

3. God is our hope, and do you know that He wants You to rejoice in Him and in the hope you have in Him.

4. Waiting on God, being patient is good for us, because God is faithful. He will not let you down,

A Prayer:

Father, what a beautiful few verses that came through a heart that was so troubled by what he saw happening all around him.
Yet even in his troubles he did not lose sight of You and of who You are, and of the blessings You give, and of how it is that we receive those blessings. May we learn from these verses what You intend for us to learn. Thank You, Lord. In Jesus name.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.