Recently I have spent a lot of time in the Old Testament during the time of exile. Today at church one of the scriptures and the sermon was about a prophecy of hope in God at the last day which was a powerful reminder!
Really this brings up the question of what will we put our hope in?
Isaiah 2: 1-5
This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:
2 In the last days
the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
and all nations will stream to it.
3 Many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
to the temple of the God of Jacob.
He will teach us his ways,
so that we may walk in his paths.”
The law will go out from Zion,
the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 He will judge between the nations
and will settle disputes for many peoples.
They will beat their swords into plowshares
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
nor will they train for war anymore.
5 Come, descendants of Jacob,
let us walk in the light of the Lord.
let us walk in the light of the Lord.
For me this scripture and the sermon made me think about the way I spend my time during rest and vacations and especially with Ivanna. Do I live every day with my hope in God? This past week was a wonderful time of rest and joy over thanksgiving. This week was such a blessing from God and Ivanna and I were able to praise him for his good gifts! Yet I think its something to be careful of to put my hope in God and not in the blessings and gifts God gives. I love Ivanna but I know both of us want to put our hope in God, our faith in Christ, and set our Lord first in our lives and our relationship!
God help me to set my heart and hope on you, because you have already won it all in Christ and promised us a future! Then I want to rejoice in this life in the times of celebration and the times of flood.
The other scripture today at church was Matthew 24:44
44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
This is such a powerful reminder that our life does not last forever and our hope is in Christ coming to finish the work he started on the cross! For this world is dying and decaying. I am young and think I am invincible often, but the reality is life is so fragile and imperfect. My life could end any day, Christ could come today and yet I have nothing too lose. When I consider how much I love Ivanna its hard to imagine how God is an eternal hope worth everything.
God help me to see the world with spiritual eyes. Help me keep my eyes on the prize Christ Jesus. For the world wants me to look at my success, my possessions, my status and my accomplishments. But all that lasts eternally is my identity in Christ and salvation in Jesus death on a cross and his resurrection life! But while I am here let it all be for your glory, for you make beautiful things even in a broken world. Let my relationship with Ivanna be for your glory and help our relationship to be centered on you Christ with our hope in God alone!
Amen!
God help me to set my heart and hope on you, because you have already won it all in Christ and promised us a future! Then I want to rejoice in this life in the times of celebration and the times of flood.
The other scripture today at church was Matthew 24:44
44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
This is such a powerful reminder that our life does not last forever and our hope is in Christ coming to finish the work he started on the cross! For this world is dying and decaying. I am young and think I am invincible often, but the reality is life is so fragile and imperfect. My life could end any day, Christ could come today and yet I have nothing too lose. When I consider how much I love Ivanna its hard to imagine how God is an eternal hope worth everything.
God help me to see the world with spiritual eyes. Help me keep my eyes on the prize Christ Jesus. For the world wants me to look at my success, my possessions, my status and my accomplishments. But all that lasts eternally is my identity in Christ and salvation in Jesus death on a cross and his resurrection life! But while I am here let it all be for your glory, for you make beautiful things even in a broken world. Let my relationship with Ivanna be for your glory and help our relationship to be centered on you Christ with our hope in God alone!
Amen!
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