This Devotional is part of our “Can’t Quarantine the Gospel” series where members of the church are contributing morning Quiet times during this time of Social Distancing. Today is Day 17 of our series. Any of the Devotionals can be read as a stand alone quiet time. You can see more devotionals here
This particular devotional was based on a sermon done by Jeff Schachinger on Sunday April 5th. You can listen to that sermon here:
Contents
Hope in a Promise
Jeff Schachinger
What is the first thing that comes to mind to you for Abraham? For many of us it is his Faith.
Remember in Genesis 22 when God took Abraham up a mountain to make a sacrifice and God told Abraham to sacrifice his son instead of an animal. Abraham was willing to go through with it, but God stopped him. God stopped him and let him know that he was looking to see if he would be faithful to His promise.
This is the story many of us remember about Abraham, but this story and Abraham’s faith began to develop well before this moment.
Romans 4:3
3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
How was Abraham able to be a hopeful as he thought about losing his son? Remember that God made Abraham a promise very early on. God promised Abraham that he would have a son even in his old age (Genesis 17:15-19) and through his son would come many descendants. God also told Abraham he was going to be the Father of many nations beginning with son Isaac (Genesis 17:3-8).
None of this could happen is Isaac died. Abraham put his Hope in God’s promise even as his faith was tested.
Romans 4:18-22
18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. 20 Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”
“Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed” How is this even possible?
Q: Where is your Hope right now?
Q: Where is your Hope being hurt?
Abraham had hope in God’s promise! God was looking to see Abraham’s unwavering faith in the hope of the promise he made.
God goes on to say that this hope is not only for Abraham.
Romans 4:23-25
23 The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone, 24 but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. 25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.
For all of us that have faith in Jesus their is this incredible Hope for us as well!
If there was ever a time where we need to have hope in God’s promises, it is right now. Every time we turn on the news it can feel very bleak. We see how tough things are with so many people’s health, the grief in the world around us, and the economy impacting our lives.
Romans 4:19
19 Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead.
The situation for Abraham could have looked very bleak, but he refused to let his circumstances destroy his Hope in God’s promises.
“Against all hope, in Hope he believed”
Q: Are you fully persuaded that God will come through?
Q: Do you have that level of Hope in God’s promises? That if He promised it, he will deliver?
Let’s look at some promises, we can Hope in:
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Peace – John 14:27
- Right now things do not feel peaceful, but in Christ we can find peace. While right now the world is increasing our heart rate, the peace of Christ can calm it down. Jesus promises to quell those fears and anxiety and he promises to warm our hearts.
- We can read His word and allow it to warm us.
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Freedom – John 8:31-32
- We may be stuck in our homes right now, but we do not need to be stuck in our sin.
- We have freedom of heart, mind, a clear conscience.
- We have access to this as we study the Word of God.
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Strength- 2 Corinthians 12:9
- The strongest amongst us is no match for we are facing, but our weakness is an opportunity for God’s strength to be shown.
- When we see how powerless we are, we can see the full power of God.
- We can pray for Christ’s strength to become our own.
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Guidance: John 16:13
- Jesus lets us know there will be a guidance we will depend on for truth and direction.
- Everyone right now has an opinion and everyone is claiming to hold up what is the truth right now.
- Our greatest guide is found in Christ and his Word as we are guided by the Holy Spirit.
Q: Which one of the above promises do you most need to cling to right now?
Encouragement: Write the promise down, print it out, paint it (for the more creative amongst us) and put in somewhere where you can see it daily.
(If you do paint or design something, please send it to me at patrick.genova@sctcoc.org and we can put it on our social media to encourage others)
Our Hope must ultimately come from God. There are so many situations throughout the Bible where God calms and guides His people through crisis. He does this by giving His people promises that could never change. His promises gave his people an anchor for their souls amidst tough times!
Hebrews 6:19
19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain
In Christ, Hope can take its rightful place as an anchor for your soul. Your faith will only be as strong as your Hope is deep.
Romans 5:1-2
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
God will see us through this and the hope in Christ will shine above all else!