Called to Hope

Called to Hope

Ephesians 1: ¹⁸ I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he promises his people, ¹⁹ and how very great is his power at work in us who believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength ²⁰ which he used when he raised Christ from death and seated him at his right side in the heavenly world. 

 

============

 

Needing cash, I thought of a plan. I would buy a lottery ticket, win and all my troubles would be over. I bought one ticket and waited for the weekly numbers to be announced. All of the numbers I selected were either one number higher or lower than the chosen. What are the odds?

 

• I had lost hope and wanted a quick fix.
• I prayed over the lottery ticket and did not win.
• I was reminded that my hope should be greater than money.

 

Paul writes a request to the LORD on behalf of the people . He wants everyone to have their mind opened by the HOLY SPIRIT to be enlightened to the “hope” GOD has called us to.

 

My Observations

• GOD’s hope is far greater than me being rich and powerful.
• Spreading GOD’s hope is valuable to HIM.
• Believing in JESUS gives me access to the same power that raised HIM from the dead.

 

Hope can be fleeting when placed in money, jobs, people or something other than GOD. I mean, even when I get money or a job or a group of people, all of these things change and sometimes have issues. BUT GOD is still there.

 

GOD is far greater than coping or getting a few dollars. HE has promises that can never be taken away. HIS power is unmatched and blessings are rich. HE opens the eyes to those who believe, so they may see HIS light and hope HE has called them to. I am grateful for HIS power and place my hope in HIM.

 

Challenge

• What things is the writer asking for?
• Have you ever lost your hope?
• Will you know that it is alright to acknowledge how hurt you have been and ask GOD to open your eyes to HIS rich and wonderful blessings for you that are far greater than anything the world has to offer?

Dependence

Dependence

Acts 7: ³⁸ “This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us, ³⁹ whom our fathers would not obey, but rejected. And in their hearts they turned back to Egypt, ⁴⁰ saying to Aaron, ‘Make us gods to go before us; as for this Moses who brought us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ ⁴¹ And they made a calf in those days, offered sacrifices to the idol, and rejoiced in the works of their own hands. ⁴² Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets:

‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness,
O house of Israel?
⁴³ You also took up the tabernacle of Moloch,
And the star of your god Remphan,
Images which you made to worship;
And I will carry you away beyond Babylon.’

============

Peering into the grass I saw a dollar, so I gleefully picked it up. “This is my lucky day!” I said. The next day nothing, but days later I found five dollars. Weeks later I found a necklace, combs, and a stick pin. “This is a lucky lawn” I said to myself. Though out of the way, I made a point to pass by daily.

• I used to believe in luck.
• I used to believe in coincidences.
• I used to believe in random circumstances supplied by the “universe.”

Stephen continues to explain what happened to Israel. Though protected, when Moses went to speak with GOD, they forced Aaron to make an idol to worship, like the good old slavery days back in Egypt. They were free yet dependent on a powerless hunk of metal. They were punished for doing so.

• GOD wants me to depend on HIS power alone.
• GOD wants me to depend on HIS word to guide me.
• GOD wants me to depend on HIS love, faithfulness and plan for me.

Dependence on GOD does not mean I hold onto a portion of something while HE holds the rest. It means I cannot do something and HE takes care of one hundred percent. Very similar to being in a car with GOD, HE drives without me holding the steering wheel.

GOD wants credit for everything, especially salvation. HIS love is to be recognized and power awed. It is GOD who is my deliverer. I put my trust in HIM alone.

• What are you depending on?
• Do you think you can extend your life one second without GOD?
• Will you give your trust to GOD little by little so one day you will have full confidence in HIS power to bring you out of any circumstance?

Worshiping Something Else

2 Kings 17: ³⁵ When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. ³⁶ But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. 

³⁷ You must always be careful to keep the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. ³⁸ Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. ³⁹ Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

============

Times were getting tough and I wasn’t hearing from GOD so I opened a fortune cookie and lottery numbers appeared. I wonder if I should play the lottery popped in my mind. Another time things were getting tough and I wasn’t hearing from GOD so I read my horoscope, hoping for some encouraging words.

Yet another time things were getting tough and I wasn’t hearing from GOD so I spent about an hour looking for a four leaf clover so I could have ”good luck.”

• When I want my way I will seek other gods for direction.
• When I want my way I will seek other gods for advice.
• When I want my way I will seek other gods for fulfilling my dreams.

My lack of trust sent me looking for answers in the wrong places. I wanted instant information rather than listening to GOD on a daily basis. When things started to go wrong, I would immediately go to the next thing to satisfy my craving for immediate information. BUT GOD wants something different.

• GOD says to me “Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them.”
• GOD says to me “I am brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, and I am the one you must worship.”
• GOD says to me “Be careful to keep the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands written for you. Do not worship other gods.”
• GOD says to me “Do not forget the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods.”
• GOD says to me “Worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

So I started worshipping GOD and more things started to go wrong! Wait a minute! What happened? GOD then opened my eyes and showed me I had a long way to go in order to fully trust HIM so I stayed on the road. I am so glad I now put my trust in HIM because my hope is much stronger.

• Are you seeking symbols, trinkets and bobbles to bring you luck?
• Do you believe you will be “lucky” and get rich one day?
• Are you doing anything for the god of money even being sad when it doesn’t allow you to have some?
• Can you stop bowing down to various gods and stand firm for the one true GOD?

Weak forces make me weak

Galatians 4: ⁹ But now that you know God—or rather are known by God —how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years!10 

============

Nimble footed was my practice as I hopped over each crack in the pavement. “Step on a crack, break your mothers’ back” was the superstition I was trying to avoid. I also took special care not to break any mirrors which was supposed to bring seven years bad luck. When things went wrong I wondered what superstition had I missed. Did I walk under a ladder or something?

• When I believe in “luck” more than GOD I’m on the wrong path.
• When I believe in “fate” more than GOD I’m on the wrong path.
• When I believe in “dates” more than GOD I’m on the wrong path.

I would attribute bad situations to Friday the 13^th or Halloween. It seemed like luck, fate and dates were running my life. BUT GOD has something different in mind for me.

• GOD’s power is greater than any worry I can have.
• GOD’s love is greater than any sin I can commit.
• GOD’s grace is greater than any doubt I can muster up.
• GOD’s mercy is greater than any malefaction I can commit.

My superstitions got in the way of having a clear view of what GOD could do in my life. I wanted things to go my way so I placed my hope in things far weaker than GOD. I searched for four leaf clovers and hoped the lottery would come through someday. GOD’s power is greater than any charm, scheme or luck I can ever fall into. I put my trust in GOD and HE has brought me peace.

• What have you placed your belief in?
• Do you trust other things outside of GOD?
• Can you turn your trust in GOD a little more today?
• Will you let go of one of your superstitions today?