A Living Hope - Day 166 Month 6-5 Week 24-5

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year)


Judges 3:9-31, Psalm 132, Jeremiah 44:1-19, Acts 6

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Judges%203%3A9-31%2C%20Psalm%20132%2C%20Jeremiah%2044%3A1-19%2C%20Acts%206&version=NASB1995


A Living Hope

Sometimes it's hard to remember that Jesus sits on the throne. In Psalm 132, we are reminded that someone from the line of David will sit on the throne, and we understand that person to be Jesus. He sits on the throne of His kingdom, even though He has not yet returned.

The world right now is a mess. We are seeing the effects of global warming. We have war in the Middle East, war in Ukraine, and conflicts throughout Africa. We see world leaders seeking greater power and influence. We witness major earthquakes, with one of the most recent occurring in the Philippines. All of this reminds us how much we long for peace to return to this world.

The good news is that God loves the people of this world. We are beginning to read about the judges God sent to rescue Israel. The people repeatedly sinned against God. They intermarried with the people living around them against God's command (a situation specific to Israel's covenant relationship with God and not to be confused with modern circumstances), and they served foreign gods. When they were defeated by foreign kings, they cried out to God, and He sent judges to deliver them. These judges led the people to safety and directed them back to God. In our reading today, we saw this happen twice, and it will continue throughout the book of Judges. Even though the people repeatedly sinned against Him, God continued to love them and rescue them.

Jesus promised that He would return. The world today seems to be in a place where the only lasting answer is a new creation. I believe we have passed the point where global warming can easily be reversed, and there is little indication that wars will decrease. In fact, many nations are increasing military spending because of growing global tensions. Here in Canada, we are seeing levels of military investment not witnessed since the early 1990s, with discussions about fighter jets, submarines, and other defence initiatives. Europe appears to be experiencing the same trend as the war in Ukraine continues nearby. All of this makes me long for Jesus' return.

We are fortunate that war is not currently surrounding us, but we are still affected by global warming. Here in Nova Scotia, we have experienced larger and more frequent wildfires in recent years.

So is this a time to be fearful?  I would suggest no.

Every now and then, I feel anxiety creeping in, but I am quickly reminded that the Holy Spirit lives within me. I am also reminded that, ultimately, everything will be okay. Life will likely become more challenging, and future generations may face even greater difficulties. Yet we can rest in the knowledge that God loves us. Just as He sent judges to rescue Israel, He will ultimately save His people.

God loves the world. What we can do right now is offer a living hope. Jesus is that living hope. He died and defeated death so that we might truly live. Let us use this time to share His love with the world.

Have a great day!

Steve

steve.d.pauls@gmail.com

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