Devotional

2020 has been a year of chaos. For the first time in human history, entire countries have been placed on government-sanctioned lockdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. Unemployment rates in America rival that of the Great Depression. Sporting events, concerts, and travel across the globe have been all but suspended for the foreseeable future. Many government and medical experts wonder if we will see a second or third wave of the coronavirus as we did with the twentieth-century Spanish Flu outbreak. In a world full of turmoil and hardship, it is easy for humanity to be tempted to despair. When times are difficult and we find ourselves in the midst of great adversity, our natural responses will often lead us to panic or questioning whether things will ever get “back to normal.” Perhaps over the past two months, you have even found yourself saying, “I hope things get better soon!” 

The Bible has much to say about the relationship between life in a difficult world and the hope that is available to all who have trusted in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (Romans 10:11). Unlike the fickle nature of our emotions and the ever-changing circumstances of this life, the follower of Jesus Christ can have unshakable confidence in His perfect purposes for their life (Hebrews 4:13-16). For the Christian, God is working every detail of human history together for their eternal good and for His supreme glory (Romans 8:28) There is not a detail of life that escapes His perfect knowledge, nor a single molecule that can usurp His sovereign reign over the universe (Isaiah 46:9-10). Indeed, even in a year as unprecedented as 2020, it is possible to possess hope in the present and in our future. 

This hope is available for you through faith in Jesus Christ alone (Romans 3:21-26). This hope is not mere wishful thinking, nor something that this world can offer you. This hope will not guarantee you health, wealth, or prosperity. This hope will not take all of your problems away nor grant you an easier life. Rather, this hope will give you the absolute assurance that you can have a personal relationship with your Creator and be forgiven of the sins that you have committed against Him (2 Corinthians 5:14-21). This hope will give you rest for your souls, an inward peace that surpasses all understanding and boldness to face whatever trials might come your way (Matthew 11:25-30). This hope will lead you into the eternal love that is freely offered to all who will surrender their life to the Lordship of Jesus Christ (John 3:16-21). Do you possess this hope for yourself today? 

Weekly Passages For Meditation: 

Monday- Ephesians 2:1-10

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Tuesday- 1 John 1:5-10

5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

Wednesday- Philippians 3:7-14

7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Thursday- 1 Peter 1:17-23

17 If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, 19 but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. 20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, 23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

Friday- 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, 17 comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

Saturday- James 1:12-27

12 Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.