The Source of our Hope

Okay, so maybe the news you woke to this morning, following yesterday’s voting, is not what you wanted. On the other hand, maybe it is good news to you. Either way, we have a president and newly or re-elected representatives in all forms of government. Maybe the proposals didn’t go the way you wished for them to go either. We still have a state constitution that guides us. One thing I know, this morning as I write this post, now is definitely not the time to allow our personal feelings and biases to compromise our need to pray.

Paul, in his first letter to Timothy says it quite powerfully I believe. Listen to these words;

1 Timtohy 2:1-4 (NRSV)

            

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Paul urges us to pray. More specifically, Paul urges us to pray for our elected officials. We are to be a people marked by prayer. Why?  Because being people of prayer assures us that we place our hope, not in elected officials and/ or government bureaucracy, but in the one source that has the power to change things- The Lord, Jesus Christ. Christ alone is the source of our hope.

No wonder the songwriter could pen these words:

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; in ev’ry high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood support me in the whelming flood; when all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found, dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain: On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand—all other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.

Where is your hope built today? Is your hope built on the shaky foundation of government bureaucracy and elected officials? Or, is your hope built on the Solid Rock of Jesus Christ? We, as Americans, may be feeling various different emotions today as we turn on the news and tune into the latest to see what has transpired. One thing is sure though- Jesus is still on the throne, and God is still in control! Would that we remember this. Would that we build our hope on this firm foundation. Then, would that we heed Paul’s words and commit our country and our newly appointed leaders to prayer, trusting that our prayers will indeed avail much. (James 5:16)

It is possible to move men through God by prayer alone. 

                                           -J. Oswald Sanders, Spiritual Leadership

Today, this is my view from the Open Road. 

Prayer's Power

My view from the Open Road is a little skewed this week.  There are many thoughts that I am processing as I pen this week’s post.  Over the last little while, I have been reading through the Old Testament book of Nehemiah and reading it very carefully.  Nehemiah’s task was to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity and the return of the Judahites to Jerusalem under king Cyrus of Persia.  Immediately Nehemiah faces challenges and opposition.  However, what amazes me is not the opposition Nehemiah faces but rather how he handles that opposition.  Let us look specifically at Nehemiah 4 as I think this portion of Scripture has immediate implications to the oppression that surrounds us today.

The first problem Nehemiah faces is that the enemy is directly opposed to any plans to rebuild the city wall.  In fact, so much are they opposed to the rebuilding that they are beginning to prepare for battle and have begun to taunt the Jews.

The second problem, the rumors of impending attack, and the plea from the surrounding area Jews, to abandon the task of rebuilding and save their own necks.  See many of the Jews, because of the exile had taken up residence in the surrounding area hiding their identities.  It is from these Jews, living among the enemies, as they were, that the Jews in Jerusalem hear of the coming attack.

The final problem is that internal discouragement and lack of motivation almost completely stops the rebuilding process.  The people had taken their mind off the task given them and started being mentally co-opted by the distractions surrounding them.  They took their eyes off the prize as it were.

Despite, and in fact in the face of

Opposition 

Lose of motivation

Constant continual taunts

Jeering cynicism

All around ill will

Despite all of these obstacles, Nehemiah refuses to throw the towel in and say, “I quit!”

In fact, every time opposition was encountered Nehemiah directed his, as well as his fellow Jews, attention heavenward and prayed.  I wonder what would happen if we were to follow this model.  What if every time we met opposition we focused our attention heavenward and prayed to the one who alone can handle any opposition as opposed to trying to take care of it ourselves first?

So, as we are surrounded with the devastation that hurricane Sandy has wrought on the East coast, this week’s coming election, the news of the death of loved ones, sickness, school, whatever...As we face these obstacles and many more, are we willing to follow Nehemiah’s example and pray before we act?  Then, are we willing to trust in the provision of our Heavenly Father, Jehovah-Jireh, 100%, knowing that God will supply all your needs (Phil. 4:19)?

Max Lucado says it this way: “Don’t measure the size of the mountain; talk to the One who can move it.  Instead of carrying the world on your shoulders, talk to the one who holds the universe on his.”

Let us hold these words in mind as we walk through what only promises to be a rather tumultuous week.

For today, this is my view from the Open Road.