Devotions
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What do you hope for? What brings joy into your life? Romans chapter 12:9-21 describes what are called the “marks of a true Christian.” The beginning of verse 12 says, “Rejoice in hope, ...” Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary defines rejoice: “To experience joy and gladness in a high degree; to be exhilarated with lively and pleasurable sensations; to exult.”
As a recovered addict, I understand what it means to chase after “feel-good feelings.” Although feelings and emotions are not bad by themselves, when we place our hope in them we can be easily led into all sorts of problem areas. GOD’s word describes those areas as “deeds of the flesh” (sin nature) and/or sins of the spirit (pride, arrogance, haughtiness). When our hope is put into the wrong areas, a negative progression begins in the same way it does with substance abuse. Just as an addict needs ever-increasing amounts of the preferred substance to achieve the desired feeling, the person “addicted to” the sins of the flesh and the spirit will find those sins getting worse and worse as they experience less and less joy. Sometimes these behaviors are encouraged by our society, and some type of feel-good feeling is promised or implied, but never occurs. The person whose “hope” is in anything but Jesus are doomed to disappointment. Many people confuse “hope” with “wish or desire.” In his original dictionary (published in 1828), Noah Webster says these things are different. “Hope… always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wishing and desiring may produce…pain and anxiety.” True hope comes only from a relationship with Christ which orders our lives. This is why it’s a good idea to follow the words of I Peter 1:13b: “…set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” This is the hope worth rejoicing in. Pastor Bill
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AuthorNotes from the Staff @The Woods Archives
March 2023
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