Letters of Hope

Greetings! 

One recent wintry morning, working to clear a path through another heavy fall of snow, my thoughts drifted back to my growing-up years.  I was brought up with the old adage that “a job worth doing is worth doing well!” and “whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might!”  

Among the many lessons my Dad taught me – from how to dry a sharp knife without cutting my hand – to how to fold my long underwear at the ankles so it wouldn’t be a bulge under my long stockings – to how to ‘scribe’ in carpentry to mark and fit closely – to always telling the truth no matter what – one that stands out and, I think, helped to shape my character, was how to be thorough in whatever I undertook to do.  That lesson served me well throughout my school years, certainly during my years of secretarial employment, as well as all the years since.  Now it works well even when cleaning the snow from our decks and parking pad! 

When I came to learn more of the Scriptures, I discovered that this is quite a Godly principle.  What is God’s word on the subject?  “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men….”"  and “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might…” (Col. 3:23;  Eccl. 9:10) 

The context of the first quotation is addressed to employees (slaves, in Bible days) assuring them that they would receive their reward from the Lord for, in actuality, they were serving the Lord Christ.  I wonder how often we think of our menial tasks and daily duties as “serving the Lord Christ”?  Perhaps it would make a difference in our attitudes, as well as how carefully and how thoroughly we do our work. 

The context of the second quotation indicates that this life is very temporary and now is the time to apply knowledge and wisdom to our actions.  The grave holds no such opportunities!    

In giving us these instructions, it is evident that God Himself has set the example of thoroughness in His workings.  He Himself is perfect in every aspect of its meaning   “His law is perfect…;”    “His work is perfect…a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.”  “His way is perfect;  the word of the Lord is tried (purified); He is a buckler to all them that trust in Him…and He makes my way perfect.”  (Ps. 19:7; Deut. 32:4;  2 Sam. 22:31-33) 

“…and He makes my way perfect.”  In being conformed to His image, we are in the process of becoming as He is, by being “filled with His fullness.”  Jesus’ own prayer just before His glorification was that He might be in us as the Father was in Him, that we might “perfected into one” - in Them!   Then we are told that all Scripture was inspired by God, profitable for all things that we might be “perfected and thoroughly equipped to do good works.”   The author of the book of Hebrews prayed that “the God of peace, Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ…”  (John 17:21-23;  2 Tim. 3:16,17);  Heb. 13:20,21) 

The key, of course, is Christ “working in you.”  As self is diminished, and Christ is increased, it will be Him working in us, “to will and to do His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:13) 

If it was in order for Epaphras to pray for the saints of his day that they might “stand perfect and complete in all the will of God,” surely it is appropriate for us to pray that we may also experience that standing “in Christ.” (Col. 4:12) 

It may take fiery trials and sufferings to bring about that
perfection/maturity/completeness, as it did our Elder Brother.  But, being one with Him, as we share in the fellowship of His sufferings, we will also share in the power of His resurrection.  (Heb. 2:10,11; Phil. 3:10; Heb. 5:8,9; 1 Peter 5:10) 

It pleased the Father that in His Son all fullness/completeness should dwell and we share in that completeness.   ”For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.  And you are complete in Him, Who is the Head of all principality and power.”  “Being confident of this very thing, that He Who has begun a good work in you will perfect/complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”  (Col. 1:18,19;  2:9-10;  Phil. 1:6) 

Thus we have a confident expectation of the thorough working of our Heavenly Father to conform us to His image, fill us with His Fullness, and to fulfill in us the purpose for which He created us. (Eph. 3:19) 

So, let us “let patience have her perfect work that we may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”  for “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me.  (Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever;  forsake not the works of Your own hands).”  (James 1:4;  Ps. 138:8) 

“Now may the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace in the believing,
that you may abound in Hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Rom. 15:13) 

In Agape, Eulene

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Blessings to all, 

“I will go before you, and make the crooked places straight…and I will give you the treasures of darkness, and HIDDEN RICHES OF SECRET PLACES, that you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, am Jehovah…..and there is no-one else;  there is no God beside Me…”  (Isa. 45:2,3) 

When considering the treasures of darkness week before last, I became curious about the “hidden riches of secret places” in the same passage.   Gold, silver, minerals, and precious stones are generally found hidden in veins in the ‘secret places’ of the earth.   Some minerals can be found at the earth’s surface; others lie far beneath the surface and can be removed only by digging deep underground, sometimes at great risk to the miners.  But the “hidden riches of secret places” that I believe are referred to here are of unfathomable value, and unsearchable at the human level.  They are “with our God” and are linked with “honor and righteousness.”  (Prov. 8:18) 

The Apostle Paul reveled in the fact that to him the grace was given that he should proclaim the UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST.  In his letters to the churches at Rome, Ephesus and Philippi, he refers to some of those riches. (Eph. 3:8) 

THE RICHES OF HIS GOODNESS and FORBEARANCE and LONGSUFFERING.  “It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.”   (Rom. 2:4) 

THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE, through which we receive “redemption and the forgiveness of sins through Christ’s atoning blood.”  (Eph. 1:7) 

THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY according to which we are “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner being.”  (Eph. 3:16) 

“O the depth of the RICHES both of the WISDOM and KNOWLEDGE of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!”  Such wealth is truly  unsearchable. (Rom. 11:33) 

Material riches are not always desirable.  In fact, the Scriptures warn us against setting our hearts on earthly wealth.  “If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.”   “He that trusts in his riches shall fall, but the righteous shall flourish…”   “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.”   “And the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the Word and it becomes unfruitful.”  (Ps. 62:10;  Prov. 11:28;  22:1;  Mark 4:19)   

Moses understood the vast difference when he esteemed “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt,” for he was looking forward to the reward he would receive.  (Heb. 11:26) 

Nevertheless, the promise to us is sure that “God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”  (Phil. 4:19)  

Fanny Crosby wrote beautifully about those “UNSEARCHABLE RICHES”:- 

O, the Unsearchable Riches of Christ! 
Wealth that can never be told!
Riches exhaustless of mercy and grace,
Precious, more precious than gold!

O, the Unsearchable Riches of Christ! 
Who shall their greatness declare!
Jewels whose luster our lives may adorn,
Pearls that the poorest may wear!

O, the Unsearchable Riches of Christ!
Freely, how freely they flow,
Making the souls of the faithful and true
Happy wherever they go!

O, The unsearchable Riches of Christ! 
Who would not gladly endure
Trials, afflictions, and crosses on earth,
Riches like these to secure!

Precious, more precious -
Wealth that can never be told!
O, the unsearchable riches of Christ -
Precious, more precious than gold!

 “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that you may know what is the HOPE of His calling, and what the RICHES OF THE GLORY OF HIS INHERITANCE IN THE SAINTS.”  (Eph. 1:17,18) 

“Now the God of all HOPE fill you with all JOY and PEACE in the believing,
that you may abound in HOPE
through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:13)

In Agape, Eulene

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Hello Everyone, 

There is a wonderful statement in Hebrews 6:13-20:  This is the way Weymouth translates vss.18 and 19:- “…..we may possess mighty encouragement – we who, for safety, have hastened to lay hold of the HOPE set before us.  That HOPE we have as an ANCHOR OF THE SOUL – an anchor that can neither break nor drag!” 

Being very much a prairie girl and having seen little of the sea or sailing, my knowledge of anchors was strictly limited to pictures!  So I went to the encyclopedia for more information.  An anchor is a heavy weight that is used to hold a ship or boat in place.  The most common kind of anchor is made of iron or steel.  A chain, made of special, high-grade steel, called an anchor cable, is fastened to the anchor and tied to the ship.  When the anchor is lowered to the bottom of the water, it catches in the mud to hold the vessel in place.  The type of anchor varies according to the size of the boat. 

The author of this passage in Hebrews assures us that God’s promises are like an anchor, both sure and steadfast, which can neither break nor drag!  How can we be really certain of this?  Well, the passage explains: 

When God gave His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, saying, “Assuredly, blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendents as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore…and in your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed…”  And so, as the result of patient waiting, Abraham obtained what God had promised.  

Men swear by what is greater than themselves, and with them an oath in confirmation of a statement always puts an end to a dispute.  In the same way, since it was God’s desire to display more convincingly to all to whom the promise of salvation was made, how unchangeable His purpose was, He added an oath.  In this way, through two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for Him to prove false, we may have a strong consolation – “we who, for safety, have hastened to lay hold of the HOPE set before us.” 

The two immutable, or unchangeable things?  GOD’S PROMISE and GOD’S OATH.  Or we might say, His WORD and His NAME.  

Since there was none greater to whom to appeal, God made Himself a kind of third party or mediator between Himself and us.  So we have a double ground of confidence, in GOD the PROMISER Who gives us His WORD, and in GOD the GUARANTOR Who confirms it by His OATH.  There is therefore no possibility of our being deceived or disappointed.  Jesus offers us new hope because He has entered the innermost Sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, not only on our behalf (for us) but also ‘as a forerunner’, opening the way for us to follow Him and thus enabling us to draw near to God.  Also, like an anchor, He offers us a sure and an abiding confidence because, in the innermost Sanctuary of God’s Presence, He abides as our High Priest forever. 

Upon life’s boundless ocean where mighty billows roll,
I’ve fixed my hope in Jesus, blest anchor of my soul;
When trials fierce assail me as storms are gath’ring o’er,
I rest upon His mercy and trust Him more.

He keeps my soul from evil and gives me blessèd peace,
His voice has stilled the waters and bid their tumult cease;
My Pilot and Deliv’rer, to Him I all confide,
For always when I need Him, He’s at my side.

He is my Friend and Savior, in Him my anchor’s cast,
He drives away my sorrows and shields me from the blast;
By faith I’m looking upward beyond life’s troubled sea,
There I behold a haven prepared for me.

I’ve anchored in Jesus, the storms of life I’ll brave;
I’ve anchored in Jesus, I fear no wind or wave,
I’ve anchored in Jesus for He has pow’r to save,
I’ve anchored to the Rock of Ages.

             (L. E. Jones)

 We have an anchor that keeps the soul / steadfast and sure while the billow roll / Fastened to the Rock which cannot move / grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.

 “May God, the Giver of HOPE,
fill you with continual joy and peace because you trust in Him,
so that you may have abundant HOPE
through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
(Romans 15:13 Weymouth)

In Agape, Eulene

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