For the past 8 or 9 years, I have carried a quote in my wallet, which over this time, I have had the occasion to share with a number of people. However, I cannot recall sharing this quote with anyone at anytime this year. Then in two days, early this week, I took that quote out of my wallet and shared it with two people. As I thought about writing this “Pastor’s Corner,” I thought this would be a good time to share it with you.
The quote is from N. T. Wright, a leading world-recognized New Testament scholar.
“practice hope through consciously holding the unknown future within the unshakable divine promises….”
What might be some of the “divine promises” that you and I can “consciously” hold? Each of us may have one or more of those promises that keep us encouraged. As I was thinking about some of those promises, I would like to suggest a couple on which you may like to meditate.
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6&7
- “The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:8
- “…they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
- “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6
- “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1
- “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.” 1 Peter 1:3-4
- “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5&6
Whatever the “divine promises” are that God brings to mind, let us thank God for the “unshakable divine promises” that God prompts us to remember and let us “consciously” hold on to them as the encouragement that God knows we need when we need it.
