Timothy T. C. McGhee days — Monday, March 18, 2024W1 W2 W3 W4 182%40°F

A Message of Hope


Vision
The most important way to see anything is with an accurate eternal perspective. “The things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). For those who have trusted in Jesus, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). An eternal perspective gives believers confidence that “those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:13-17).

Purpose
Jesus' very first recorded question was one He asked often: “What do you seek?” (John 1:38). What do you want? What do you desire? It's a great question—a foundational question. The Word of God has some advice on how to answer it. Jesus said, “You must be born again” (John 3:7). Paul wrote, “Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved” (Romans 10:1). Have you put your trust in Jesus?

Hope
The children of God are “heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:17-18). “We were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance” (Romans 8:24-25). One day we who have trusted in Jesus will see “the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). There will be a “redemption of the purchased possession” (Ephesians 1:14).

Healing
Any follower of the times knows that the world is not as it was created to be. The diagnosis: “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (James 4:1). The prescription: “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Our hope extends to a time of healing when “‘God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new’” (Revelation 21:4-5).

Thriving
Jesus came so that His sheep “may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). After preaching the gospel to the poor and healing the brokenhearted, the mission of Jesus was “To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD” (Luke 4:18-19). Freedom comes in knowing the truth. “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32). Jesus is the truth (John 14:6), so we know we are set free because “if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36). We are then to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage” (Galatians 5:1).


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