THE
BOOK OF GOD'S PROMISES
Hope
By
J. Stephen Lang
CBN.com
-- "High Hopes" could be the subtitle of the Bible, the New Testament
in particular. The Bible authors understood that people aren't content to live,
but need to have something to live for. It is human to wonder about the
future, for God made us that way. Happily, he gave many promises of a blessed
future to those who follow him. Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will
put my hope in God! I will praise him again -- my Savior and my God! Psalm
42:11 The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the
wicked are all in vain. Proverbs 10:28 Love the LORD, all you faithful ones!
For the LORD protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes all
who are arrogant. So be strong and take courage, all you who put your hope in
the LORD ! Psalm 31:23-24 The LORD watches over those who fear him, those
who rely on his unfailing love. Psalm 33:18 Hope deferred makes the heart
sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy. Psalm 13:12 Blessed
are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.
Jeremiah 17:7 Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach
us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises.
Romans 15:4 There are three things that will endure -- faith, hope, and
love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 We who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive
everything promised to us who are right with God through faith. Galatians 5:5
In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from God's
people, Israel, and you did not know the promises God had made to them. You lived
in this world without God and without hope. But now you belong to Christ Jesus.
Though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought near to him
because of the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:12-13 This is the secret: Christ
lives in you, and this is your assurance that you will share in his glory. Colossians
1:27 Brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians
who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope.
For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe
that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have
died. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 He declared us not guilty because of his great
kindness. And now we know that we will inherit eternal life. Titus 3:7 God
has given us both his promise and his oath. These two things are unchangeable
because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for
refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with confidence.
This confidence is like a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads
us through the curtain of heaven into God's inner sanctuary. Hebrews 6:18-19
Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can
be trusted to keep his promise. Hebrews 10:23 What is faith? It is the confident
assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things
we cannot yet see. Hebrews 11:1 All honor to the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, for it is by his boundless mercy that God has given us the privilege
of being born again. Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ
rose again from the dead. For God has reserved a priceless inheritance for his
children. It is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of
change and decay. And God, in his mighty power, will protect you until you receive
this salvation, because you are trusting him. It will be revealed on the last
day for all to see. So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though
it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. 1 Peter 1:3-6
See also Eternal Life, Faith/Trust.
Related
article: Steps to Peace with God Read
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The Book of God's Promises -- Copyright, 1999 by J.
Stephen Lang. All rights reserved, used with permission.
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