Upward Training

Day 4

Rejoice in Hope, Resist Cynicism

1 Peter 1:3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ to his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.

Psalm 42:5 Why are you down cast, O my soul?  Why so disturbed within me?   Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Hebrews 6:19-20 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.  It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain where our forerunner, Jesus has entered on our behalf…

Hope is essential and fundamental to Christian life.  Our source of hope is our Savior Jesus Christ.  We place our hope in God who is absolutely trustworthy.  His Words will not fail.  We can stand on His promises.  Hope is described as “living”, not frail or perishable.  It serves as an “anchor, firm and secure”.  Hope is a belief and confidence that positive outcomes will be attained.  It focuses on strengths and resilience. Hope is a catalyst for change and healing.

1 Corinthians 13:7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.  “Always “  encompasses all things.  We can all hope for some things.  But God calls us farther and deeper into love for Him, for one another, and for the lost.  It is impossible to have this love apart from God’s help.

Cynicism is an attitude characterized by a general distrust of others.  Life experiences, media, and education contribute to the unrealistic negativity.  To believe the best about people and give them the benefit of the doubt is considered naïve and gullible.  Love is willing to take a risk with others.  Love believes that good is possible for anyone.

Hope thrives in a Christian’s personal relationship with God.  Faith, hope, and love are intertwined.  Faith grows as we meditate upon God’s Word.  Prayer is powerful.  We are blessed to have a wealth of Christian books at our fingertips.  Fellowship on a regular basis with Christian friends brings encouragement, love, and spiritual growth.  Would you like to be better equipped for evangelism?  Each of us has the opportunity to attend the Christian Life and Witness Course from Rock the Lakes for exceptional training to present hope to the lost.   (A series of three classes will be held May 3rd, 10th, and 17^th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the CMA of North East; other dates and locations are available.)   Let hope rise in your heart.

If you are reading this after these classes have started, you can come to the remaining sessions even if you have missed the first one.  And if you wish to make up the first one, a make-up opportunity will be provided.  Look at www.rockthelakes.org for times and locations.

Questions for Reflection

Write out your vision of hope.  For example, think of a relationship or circumstance that has been darkened by cynicism.  What would it look like if hope replaced cynicism?  

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Look at Psalm 42:5,  the second Scripture quoted in this devotional.  It is this verse which prompted the late Martin Lloyd-Jones to write,

Have you realized that most of your unhappiness in life is due to the fact that you are listening to yourself instead of talking to yourself?  Now this man’s treatment [in Psalm 42] was this: instead of allowing this self to talk to him, he starts talking to himself. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul?” he asks. His soul had been depressing him, crushing him. So he stands up and says,: “Self, listen for moment, I will speak to you.” (Spiritual Depression, 20-21)

John Piper then concludes:

On this side of the cross, we know the greatest ground for our hope: Jesus Christ crucified for our sins and triumphant over death. So the main thing we must learn is to preach the gospel to ourselves:

Listen, self: If God is for you, who can be against you? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for you, how will he not also with him graciously give you all things? Who shall bring any charge against you as God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for you. Who shall separate you from the love of Christ? (Romans 8:31–35 paraphrased)

Learn to preach the gospel to yourself. If this psalmist were living after Christ, that is what he would have done.

So…this is our practice for today.  When your soul is preaching against hope to you, do not just listen…preach the gospel back to yourself!  And the gospel fills us with hope and love like that found in the greatest love song, 1 Corinthians 13!