What Is Our ConneXion? ~ Hope

 

“Hope deferred…”

 

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12

And…

The LORD is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

Proverbs 15:29

As…

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:7

So know…

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

John 3:36

The Preeminence of Christ

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Colossians 1:15-23

 

Thus, the time is at hand for all — the believer that needs uplifting and sound spiritual doctrine, the unbeliever in need of God’s free gift of grace though none of us are deserving, His mercy, though all of us are deserving of His wrath and judgment for our sin, His forgiveness and love leading to a changed heart, a renewed mind and spirit, a transformation provided by faith and obedience to the Lord in His ways and Word.

Believer and unbeliever — come, come and build a strong, solid, unbreakable foundation in sound doctrine garnered from the whole of God’s Word, which lives. Which has the power to save and to provide the only truth, understanding, knowledge, and wisdom able to renew every and any individual who believes, faithfully, repents in a sincere heart, and confesses their sin — this applies to a professed believer as well as that chief among sinners, the greatest of heathens and unbeliever — and be born anew, restored, in the Spirit of the Lord.

Turn back to the Lord and His Word, or turn to the Lord for the first time in your life.

No longer defer hope making the heart sick while struggling to wear the mask of the world, the darkness placed in unbelieving hearts, or hearts have grown dim and turned more to the world than to the Lord among professed believers waning, waffling along the way.

Begin to love the Lord as He loves you. As best each of us possibly can.

First, and always building a solid foundation from God’s Word — all of it. Not in personal interpretation, not attempting to alter the Word to suit us, may each of us submit to have the Word of God fit us like finely tailored apparel we put on and wear continually. No matter our station in life. Especially if feeling left out, without love, without hope, and in need of help and answers. The world cannot and will not ever provide the truth or the answers to the most important questions. But the Lord Jesus Christ can, God can, the Holy Spirit can — and They will. Gladly! Find them once again, or for the first time in the Holy Bible, in prayer, in hymns, in your heart, in your spirit, your soul, your mind — your life…

…for eternal life.

Go to the Lord in prayer in all things. All things.

Ken Pullen, A CROOKED PATH, Monday, February 27th, 2023