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.