Downcast and troubled Christian, come today and glean in the wide field of promise. Here is an abundance of precious promises that meet your wants exactly. Take this one: “A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench” (Isaiah 42:3). Doesn’t that suit your case? A reed is helpless, insignificant, and weak. A bruised reed, which can produce no music, is weaker than weakness itself. You are a reed, and a bruised reed at that—yet He will not break you. On the contrary, He will restore and strengthen you. You are like a faintly burning wick—no light or warmth can come from you. But He will not put you out; He will blow His sweet breath of mercy over you until He fans you to flame. Would you glean another ear? “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NLT). What soft words! Your heart is tender, and the Master knows it—so He speaks gently to you. Won’t you obey Him, and come to Him now? Or take another ear of corn: “‘Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you,’ says the LORD and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 44:14 NKJV). How can you fear with such a wonderful assurance as this? You could gather ten thousand golden ears like these! “I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist” (Isaiah 44:22 ESV). Or this, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool” (Isaiah 1:18 ESV). Or this, “The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price” (Revelation 22:17 ESV). Our Master’s field is plentiful; look at all the handfuls of grain. See, they lie before you, poor frightened believer! Gather them up and make them your own, for Jesus urges you to take them. Don’t be afraid, just believe! Grasp these sweet promises, thresh them out in meditation, and consume them with joy. - C.H. Spurgeon Morning and Evening
Hope is what the weary people of this world are looking for. I am not ashamed to say that I am in that boat too. The days are hard and getting harder. The times in which we live powerful people are making life difficult.
Was reading in Psalms this morning. King David minced no words on his strong feelings and desires of what he wanted God to do with the wicked. Consider too he was considered to be a man after God's own heart. God has no pleasure in seeing evil in this world.
Prayer is more powerful than any man or woman alive.
Prayer does not need to be spoken to be known by God.
Prayer doesn't even have to be a complete sentence for the Spirit to understand the intent.
Prayer is not a grocery list delivery service.
It's how we as man talk to our Holy God.
It's how we grow with respect to Salvation.
It's how we find peace that passes all understanding.
It's absolutely not a sign of the weak.
It's not a sign of a quitter.
It's not a 'crutch'.
It's the spoken and unspoken communication from our heart to God.
Hope finds itself wrapped up in prayer.
We see with our eyes, hear with our ears. As Jesus said as well if we would but do that and turn to Him, He would heal us.
But in our intense world of information overload Satan's aim is to try to drown out the voice of Christ. To prevent us from seeing the work of the Holy Spirit.
Peace and hope do exist, but not apart from a right relationship with Jesus.
The Psalmist writes of being still before God. Jesus, as it's written across 4 different Gospel accounts, often got away to be with His Father. On those occasions and as it is written, angels came to strengthen Him.
Newsflash for the world it is never anyone who passed on before you that ever comes in those moments. Scripture says of believers that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Doesn't say unless needed back on Earth. Read in Daniel of who showed up. Read in the Gospels who showed up after the temptations of Christ. Who showed up before Jesus was taken by the people to be crucified. Nowhere in Scripture is it written that ordinary people showed up after having died to help anyone. Hope is not found in those who have died. Hope is found in Christ alone.
In these times where God has allowed the breaking up of a lot of institutions. Of the stopping of a great many things. There is one thing He still beckons. Our time and attention. Regardless of your view of the smoking ruins of civilization as we see it today, God is still God. He is still in the business of saving people. If you lived in the world back when the plagues struck Egypt, you probably would be thinking the same thoughts as you do today. That it's overwhelming. That there's no hope. That you miss the way it used to be.
Jesus has repeatedly said He is at the door knocking. But you have to let Him in.
He is the epitome of the greatest of opportunities for a life yet unimagined.
Yet He will not force it upon you, regardless of what Satan says or implies by way of a manipulated media.
You must open that particular door my dear reader. You.
Your world is closing in on you, you say.
Well your choices are the same as I have had at various times in my life.
1. Go on living as you call it life. Just wallowing in your misery.
2. End it all. Not the most encouraging of statements I know. But as one whom God saved from suicide, it bears the right to be said.
Door number 3. Open it and ask Jesus to save you, to do whatever is necessary in your life to save you. 20 plus years ago I took door number 3. Oh the things that Jesus has brought me through and has opened my eyes to see.
You also need to remember that the highest of stakes are on the line. Your soul. Do you really really want to start with God on preconditions to coming to Christ? You are drowning and want to waste your last breath on the manor of how Jesus says you're to be saved?
That's like that story I have written of with the woman claiming to all that God is going to save her. She refused help from a truck, a boat, a helicopter as the dangerous water arose higher until it took her life. Standing before Jesus angry about it, He pointed out He DID send help.
My friend hope isn't gone in this world.
But I will tell you it came wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
It grew up in this world, lived a sinless life and was eventually nailed to a cross to die for the world's sin, including yours and mine.
3 days later hope blew open the doors of death, and the grave. Took all who were there in Paradise to be with Him in Heaven.
That hope has a name and its Jesus.
Jesus has promised to take care of you in every way if we would but come to Him.
He has promised to heal the broken hearted. To give a hope and a future.
But you, my friend, have to open the door to ask for Him to enter in. To forgive you of your sins. To cleanse you of all unrighteousness. To save you.
The title is eating from the fields. The fields are ripe for harvest if we would but ask Him if we can come in. The promises are never ending. If we but ask.
Don't put it off anymore. The Father could tell Jesus at any moment that now is the time. Then you would indeed be left behind in a world where this level of despair and lost hope is going to seem like a schoolyard brawl in comparison to what is coming.
Invite Jesus in today. Find the hope you can't seem to find.
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