January 17, 2024 — “In Christ, There is Always Hope”

  “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power.” Ephesians 1:15-19

I am sure you have heard someone say “All hope is lost”. People make such a statement when it appears the odds against them are so great, there is nothing that will change the course of their journey. I once saw this quote: “When you have lost hope, you have lost everything. And when you think all is lost, when all is dire and bleak, there is always hope.” (Pittacus Lore).

There is nothing more insidious than despair – than the loss of hope. We must always carry hope inside our very being because this world can take so much away from us — but it can never take away our hope that comes through Jesus Christ. After all, without hope, what do we have left? When it comes to Jesus Christ, we should never, never utter the words “All hope is lost.”

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, help me to live by the words of Philippians 3:8: “Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ.” Amen.

Pastor Dave