Our Hope in Christ

  

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."  (I Corinthians 13:13 ESV) 

     Faith, hope and love always abide.  There is no denying that the greatest of this things is love - for it is through the love of God that we gain our faith and our hope.  When we get to heaven our faith will be substantiated and our hope will be fulfilled -- for in heaven Love will reign eternally. 

      Christians often speak of faith.  We talk about increasing our faith or maturing in our faith.  Sometimes when the trials of life besiege us we cry out for more faith.  Scripture says "we walk by faith and not by sight." (II Corinthians 5:7)

       God must come first in our lives.  So we see that faith is an active faith.  Our faith is manifested in the way we live every day.    We cannot make light of the necessity of a deep and abiding faith. 

    We also speak frequently about the love of God.  There is no doubt that the Father loves us.  As Christians we love the Father and His Son.  We keep Christ's commandments because we love Him -- (John 14: 15) and we love God because He first loved us. (I John 4:19) Love is the one single driving force of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

    Not only does God love us -- but His Son does too.  He willingly gave His life for us because of his great love for us.  Consider Ephesians 5:2 –“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."  What an absolutely beautiful verse!  And it was Paul's prayer that the Christians at Ephesus - "know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:19)

      Yes, we often speak of faith and love; but it seems to me that we don't hear as much about hope as we do faith and love.  Yet, hope is also a vital part of the Christian life.  Hope is mentioned 58 times in the King James Version of the New Testament and the English Standard Version uses the word hope 75 times in the New Testament.  It must be a pretty significant topic. Wouldn't it be beneficial for us to understand as much about our hope in Christ as we can?

    What is the definition of hope? It seems we use the word much differently these days than those who lived in New Testament times did.  Merriam-Webster defines hope this way: (verb) "to want something to happen or be true and think it could happen or be true."   (noun) "the feeling of wanting something to happen and thinking that it could happen: a feeling that something good will happen or be true."  

     We might say we hope our team will win.  Maybe we hope our favorite item on the restaurant menu will be on special this weekend.  Yet we don't really know if the restaurant will be running any specials at all.  And as good as our team may be, anything can happen in a ballgame. 

     In the New Testament the meaning of the Greek word translated as hope is more tangible than our modern definition.  The Biblical use of the word hope implies much more than a "thought" or "feeling."  Actually, there is more than one Greek word translated as hope in the King James; but 54 out of 58 times the Greek word is elpis - (pronounced as el-pece').  

     The definition from Strong's Exhaustive Concordance is: to expect or anticipate, usually with pleasure; expectation or hope.  Vine's Expository Dictionary describes this word as "favorable and confident expectation; the happy anticipation of good."  In other words - Biblical hope is a joyful and confident expectation that a future event will happen. 

     We have faith in God.  We believe He exists and because we do,  we have a confident assurance that God will keep His promises.  We fully expect Him to reward us for obeying Him because that is what He told us He would do.  We can trust God because we know He means what He says.

      The ultimate reward is heaven.  It was this hope -- this confident looking toward heaven with joyful anticipation that gave the early church the impetus to grow by leaps and bounds.  It enabled them to endure persecution.  Hope kept them going.

      We expect to see our Savior one day.  Faith and hope are very closely entwined, but they are not the exact same thing.  Faith means we know it is -- hope means we know it will be.  Perhaps sharing a few verses together will help us understand more about hope.

      Hope is a vital element in our Christian lives.  Hope is what we cling to when things go bad.  It is what gets us through another day.  Hope was that important to the New Testament Christians as well.

    In Acts 16 when Paul and Silas were in Philippi, Paul healed the slave girl who had the spirit of divination.  Her owners were very unhappy about this because they "saw that the hope of their gains was gone." (v. 19) These men were using her “spirit” for monetary gain and they expected (hoped) to continue to do so.   Paul took that hope away from them. 

     In Acts 27:20 when Paul and Luke were on the ship caught in the violent storm - Luke records "all hope that we should be saved was then taken away."  No one (except Paul) expected to live through "the tempest."   The terrible storm they were trapped in for so many days removed any confidence in a chance for survival. 

•      Romans 5:2 - "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God"
•      Romans 5:5 - "And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to use.
• Romans 8:24 - "For we are saved by hope; but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for?"
• Romans 15:13 - "Now the God hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost."
• I Corinthians 9:10 - "Or say he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written; that he that plows should plow in hope; and he that threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.
• Ephesians 1:18 - "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints."

OK, I know this has been rather lengthy, but hope is so important and these scriptures are so beautiful -- I just want to share three of four more.

• Titus 1:2 - "In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began."  Oh how beautiful this verse is!  What a wonderful promise!
• Titus 2:3 - "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ."
• In Hebrews 10:23 the word faith is the same Greek word "elpis" that is translated as hope every other time that particular Greek word is used.  It is worthy of noting that verse here.  "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith (elpis /hope)without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised).

    Finally in closing, I don't think I can say anything any better than our brother Peter said through inspiration in I Peter 1:3 --

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"

 

Christ above all things,

Robin

 

 

 

 

 

      

When I Look in My Mirror

      I wrote this poem back in February in preparation for a Ladies' Retreat where I was honored to be the speaker.  Our theme was "Reflections of Him" and the key scripture was II Corinthians 3:18.  I don't always share my poems; but tonight many of the same thoughts expressed in this poem were on my mind once again.   I pray that God will bless you all and that everyone has a great week.  Remember to stay in the fight, for God will reward us when our battle is done!   

When I Look in My Mirror

             by Robin Whitley

 When I look in my mirror what do I see?

Is it the image of Christ looking back at me;

or do I see a stranger there

entrapped once again in the devil’s snare? 

Do I see the love for Christ I’ve come to know;

or today, has that love failed to show?

Can I see someone who gives her all,

 or have I – somehow - dropped the ball? 

How many days has it been since I even looked

for the Father and Son in that Good Book?

Did I fail to feed my soul today?

Have I even once remembered to pray? 

As I behold in a glass with open face

do I see His glory and His grace?

Do I see the great love that is there?

Can I feel the depth of His comfort and care? 

Do I live my life as a sacrifice?

Am I willing to pay that price?

He died that I might live.

In return, …what will I give?

 I will leave my worldly cares behind

and with His help renew my mind.

Like Him I will be loving, gentle and kind.

Transformed, my purpose re-defined. 

Then when I look in my mirror I will see

more of Him and much less of me.

No longer entrapped in the devil’s snare

I’ll see my friend and Savior there.

Christ above all things,
Robin

 

 

The Greatest Sacrifice

     Many Christians this week have focused their minds on the last few days of Jesus' life, and then on His trial and crucifixion.  On face book this morning a Christian sister shared her thoughts regarding the disciples of Christ ... what they might be thinking as they mourn the death of their Master.  His sacrifice is one we can barely comprehend. 
     The world has never seen such sacrificial love as our Savior's was.  His entire life was a sacrifice.  God's word tells us the plans were laid out "before the foundation of the world."  Jesus knew from before the creation that He would eventually leave Heaven -- leave His place with the Father to come and live with men as one of us.  He lovingly and willingly agreed to that long before it actually came to pass.
     He was our perfect example and our perfect sacrifice.  He didn't put His life on the line just for you and me but for all mankind - for all time.  The scriptures give us details of His mercy and grace in action.  God's Holy Word shows us the compassion Christ had for us all.  We see it in every blind man He caused to see, in every deaf person to whom He gave hearing, in every demon He cast out and in every leper He touched and cleansed. 
     We see His love in action in every teaching He gave us.  And we see it throughout His trial and crucifixion.  We see His mercy when Peter pulled out his sword and cut off the ear of Malchus in an attempt to defend His master.  He healed Malchus and did not allow them to fight for Him.  He gave himself to the guards that night, even knowing the great pain He would endure before His eventual death.
    No, Jesus was not here for a fight.  Christ did not come to set up an earthly kingdom or cause a war between the Jews and the Romans.  He didn't come to destroy all those who had persecuted Israel for so long.  That was not His intent.  Christ came to buy our souls with His precious blood.  He came to build His church -- to create something that the gates of Hell itself would never prevail against.  We should ever be thankful for this!
     The greatest part of His sacrifice began with His prayer in the garden.   He begged the Father for another way.  The human part of Him knew what He was about to go through.  He did not want to suffer the terrible things He knew lay just ahead of Him.  We all know Jesus could have stopped this.  He really didn't have to die.  But the Father said the spilling of perfect blood was the only way we could be saved.  Knowing this, Jesus was in complete submission to the Father.  Even during this heart wrenching prayer He was alone, for the disciples had fallen asleep.
     His death came through the betrayal by one of His own.  How ironic that Judas chose the sign of a kiss as the sign for the betrayal of His Lord -- of our Lord.  A kiss is supposed to be a sign of affection.  What was Judas thinking?  We will never know; but this kiss, the signal of his sellout, must have been heartbreaking to our Lord.
     Then came the mock trial by the high priests and the council.  Oh how much contempt they had for the Son of God!  Jesus withstood their mockery and their disdain quietly - knowing even that in a few hours His death would be for them, too -- if they chose to repent.  He could have caused the whole house to fall down on them.  He could have .... but He did not.  Love and mercy kept Him there while He was spit upon.  Love kept Him there while they covered His face and slapped Him challenging Him to tell them who it was that had done this.  He was quiet; but He knew who slapped Him.  We know Jesus knew. 
     The blood that was spilling even here and now was spilled so that we could be clean... so that we could be reconciled to the Father.  There was no other way.  And Christ loved us -- so he bore it all.  He was taken to Pilate and then to Herod and back to Pilate.  He was scourged unmercifully -- more blood -- more cleansing for you and me.  The purple robe, the crown of thorns, the shouts of "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!"  -- all this was endured by our Lord and Savior. 
     We've all read the scriptures.  We know this story.  We know He carried His own cross.  As we read the gospels, we can almost hear the hammer pounding the nails that pierced His flesh.  We can almost see the cross being lifted in the air and hear the thud as it dropped into the hole in the ground.  These images are not new to our minds.  As Christians we often remember His sacrifice.  The inspired scriptures best tell us this beautiful story. 
     The six hours on the cross was not the beginning of our Savior's sacrifice, but the agonizing end of an entire life of sacrifice.  From the time He gave up Heaven and was conceived of the Holy Spirit in Mary's womb to His last breath on the cross, He sacrificed for us -- because He loved us that much.  None of us can begin to imagine the pain and the shame Jesus Christ suffered at Golgotha.  Nor can we comprehend the great love behind the words, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." 
      As I started this post, it was not really my intention to go into such depth about our Redeemer's death on the cross.  I only meant to use it as a springboard for another subject.  Perhaps that post will come another time.  Maybe even tomorrow, if the Lord sees fit to allow me the time to post again tomorrow.  Sometimes though, my thoughts run away from me.
     Think about this, no other faith can claim a Savior with so much love.  No other faith has a God who gave so much (His own Son) for His children.  No other religion gives us an example of such sacrifice.  And none of them --- NONE of them can claim victory over death.  Only the one true and living God does that.  Only Christ our Lord gave Himself to die and only Christ has risen from the grave.  And only Christ will come back one day to judge the world and take us home with Him.

Christ above all things,
Robin
    

The Turkey in My Front Yard

     I have a purple turkey in my front yard.   He has been here for almost two weeks now.  Oh, he's quite a flamboyant character, as you can imagine a purple turkey would be.  Yet he is rather charming to be around.  He has taken over a prominent place in our flower bed and I see him every time I open my front door.  My purple turkey makes me smile.
     I know you realize this is not a live animal.  There is no such thing as a purple turkey (as far as I know).  I'm not sure what one might call him.  I call these guys pinwheels,  wind spinners or garden spinners.  He is like the pinwheels that young children play with from time to time, only he is big enough to be used as a lawn ornament in our little flower garden. 
    My purple turkey has two wheels that spin - one is slightly bigger than the other.  As the wind blows, the wheels spin in opposite directions.  The pin wheels are the turkey's bright purple tail feathers.  When the wind comes dancing through our little flower bed, the wheels spin furiously around. 
    Actually, we didn't even know the yard ornament was a turkey when we bought him. My husband and I were passing time in an in-door flea market while we waited for a mechanic to finish some needed repairs on my car. This is where we found our treasure.
     Both of us had a good time looking at all the various items for sale.  We saw furniture, books, clothes, tools and all kinds of little knick knacks.  You name it - it was probably at that flea market! We each found several things we liked; but not knowing how much money we would soon be forking over for car repairs, we were not in a position to buy anything. 
     Oh, but it was really fun to look around!  We had a good time -- and I was so happy that my husband was not in a foul mood over the car.  We relaxed and enjoyed being together.  We had almost made a complete loop around the market when we found the garden spinners.  They had different colors; but we liked the purple one.  They were only $3.00, so we got one.  It was only after we were back home and my husband put it together that we realized we had a purple turkey on our hands! 
     Now I know this little story doesn't really have a spiritual application.  The Bible doesn't mention purple turkeys or lawn ornaments ( I don't think).  But stick with me please.  You see, my car had already been in the shop earlier in the week.  We had already spent a pretty good deal of money and it still wasn't running well. 
     I had confided in my Dad that I was concerned about paying for further repairs.  Dad has always been full of faith.  He has always been confident that God would take care of him in any situation.  So his response to me was, "God will provide."  He has always been such a great encourager.  This comment alone helped me to relax as we waited while we looked around the flea market. 
     Dad's encouragement is always a blessing - a spiritual blessing as it is a reminder to me that I should not let life circumstances take my focus away from my God.  Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:"  
     A second blessing was my husband's reaction to the whole situation.  Honestly, I was concerned that the problems with the car might cause him to be upset for the whole weekend.  Instead, he took it all in stride.   Matthew 7:12 tells us, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." (ESV)  Once Robert spoke to the mechanics himself he knew they were dealing honestly with us. He seemed to relax and I was quite relieved. 
    The best part of the day was the companionship I shared with my husband while we were at the flea market.  We don't often get to spend that much time together and this was something we both enjoyed.  We really did have fun. 
    Most of us understand what a blessing a good marriage can be.  "He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord." (Proverbs 18:22 ESV)  I'm sure most wives would also agree that is a good thing to find a good husband.  When a marriage is mutually beneficial to each partner, then both partners are obtaining favor from the Lord. 
    Finally consider this scripture ...it is Matthew 7:11 - the verse just before Jesus gives us the "golden rule," quoted earlier.  To me, this verse fits perfectly with my memory of this day. "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him."
By the way, when we picked up the car, the cost was minimal.  We were truly blessed.
     When we got home, Robert put our garden spinner together.  Only then did we realize it was a turkey.  So yes, I have a purple turkey in my front yard.  I can see him every time I open my door.  He reminds of a day I was blessed in so many ways.  It was a day that I knew God was present in my life.  My purple turkey makes me smile.
    I pray that you will be able to recognize all the blessings (both great and small) that God puts in your life each day.  Our Heavenly Father is so good to us!

Christ above all things,
Robin      
    

The Importance of a Positive Influence

     She lived in a town about 120 miles away.  In our whole lives we only saw each other a few times.  We were at the same Christian ladies' event every year for the past six years.  Yet, I will probably never forget her.  I always looked forward to greeting her and her friends  as they came through the door of our meeting place at the North Mississippi Ladies Retreat at Tishomingo State Park.  I could hardly wait for the warm greetings and all the hugs I got from everyone. 
      Influence can be so powerful.  Sometimes even those we barely know can have a lasting impact on our life.  I don't think we always understand the potential we have to do good for God; nor do we realize that sometimes a small gesture of kindness executed at just the right moment will be remembered for a lifetime.  That old familiar saying is true - we always remember how others make us feel. 
       I've been thinking for several days about the significance of a good influence.  Perhaps it is because the sweet Christian sister I mentioned in the first paragraph passed away suddenly last week.  Jane (not her real name) was a Christian wife and mother.   Again, I didn't know her very well.  I never met her family.  I had never even been to her home.  We don't have to know someone really well for them to have a positive enduring influence on  our lives.
     We can show kindness to strangers.  People we barely know can benefit from our goodness to them.  As a child, I remember my Dad stopping to help a man change a flat tire in pouring rain.  That was not just a one time thing.  He helped folks out on more than one occasion. If anyone ever asked Dad what they owed him, he would just shake their hand and say something like "Oh just go worship the Lord on Sunday, how about that?" 
     I've been the recipient of helpful deeds like this myself.  Hopefully, we all have.  It is truly wonderful to be blessed by someone else's actions.  It is even more wonderful to be able to bless others.  Ah, but I digress.  'Jane' blessed me and probably never even really knew it. 
    Just because I didn't know her well, doesn't mean I didn't know some things about her character.  We can learn a lot about someone by simply observing them and how they interact with others.  First of all,  Jane was a good friend.  I could tell that much simply by watching her with her friends.  It was obvious that they all cared for one another and shared a strong bond. 
     Proverbs 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."  And in Proverbs 18:24, we see "A man that hath friends must show himself friendly, and there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother."  I think this Christian woman was a good friend -- the kind that loves at all times. 
     "A merry heart does good like medicine," (Proverbs 18:22a).  'Jane' enjoyed having a good time.  During our skits and get acquainted activities she laughed and smiled along with the rest of us.  She was quieter than some of the other ladies.  She wasn't one to seek being in the spotlight; but she became friends with one of the ladies from our home congregation.  They often joked and picked with one another.  So Jane was a good sport who liked to laugh and make new friends. 
    She was also faithful.  Jane was probably faithful in many aspects of her life.  In Luke 16:10a Christ says, "He that is faithful in that which is least is also faithful in much."  Now I know I'm probably taking this scripture out of context, for here Jesus has been talking about the unjust steward who is yet shrewd in business.  But the general idea seems to ring true to what I'm saying.   She was faithful in attending the retreat, that's for sure.  If she was faithful in coming to the retreat -- if  being there at a Christian event meant that much to her, then this good woman was probably faithful in many activities and works for the Lord. 
      Jane was given to hospitality.  We all know Christians are to be kind and tenderhearted.  We are to love one another.  I think Jane showed love to her fellow Christians.  Once, my parents and two other couples visited the congregation where Jane attends.  She and her husband took care of the lunch meal for these three extra couples.  I think they went out to eat; but this couple made sure six other people felt welcomed and were fed that day.  They took the time to fellowship with them.
     Fellowship - Jane enjoyed fellowship with other Christian women.  Why else would you come to a retreat every year for six years (and possibly more)?  She loved being among her Christian sisters.  Women don't come to those kinds of events unless they love them ... unless they gain something from being there.  Retreats are where we relax -- where we reach out to other Christian women  -- where we refresh our spirits -- and renew our courage and faithfulness.  Jane was there taking part in all of that.  At the end of Acts 2 we read how the Christians continued steadfastly not only in doctrine, but in fellowship.  I think Jane believed Christian fellowship was important.
      Perhaps what I remember most about Jane is her willingness to share her faith with others.  Last October our retreat theme was "Lifted Up on Wings of Eagles."  As part of our program on Saturday morning, we had a few ladies share what kept them "lifted up" as Christian women. Sharing with one another is a way to help us all grow.  It is one of my favorite parts of the retreat.
     I asked Jane to be one of those ladies to speak this past year.  She didn't hesitate in the least.  She never once offered an excuse or acted like she didn't want to do it.  She said yes right away!  Then she asked specific questions about what I wanted her to do.  This wasn't because she had second thoughts.  She only wanted to be clear in her mind about what was expected.  And that was because she took the request seriously and wanted to do it correctly.
     Jane was happy to speak about her faith and what kept her going -- what lifted her up.   When she spoke to us that morning she mentioned several things; but she primarily talked about her husband.  It was easy to see what a loving and supportive wife she was.  She told us how much she depended on him and how he helped her stay encouraged and happy about her service to the Lord.  If he did that for her,  well then -- I knew that love and support had to be mutual.   It was clear to me that their partnership was solid. 
      Realizing how much this dear lady influenced me through the few brief times we were together helped me understand just how important influence really is.  We can do so much good in the world.  We can truly let our lights shine.  That's what 'Jane' did - simply by being herself.  People watch us all the time.  They see what we do and they hear what we say.  As Christians who truly love our Savior, we must understand how vital it is to show Him to others.
We can't even begin to talk to someone about Jesus if we don't ACT like we know Him. 

I know Jane knew Him --- do you?

Christ above all things,
Robin