Hope (1 Tim. 4:9-10)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 5-12-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Hope

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1Timothy 4:9-10

 

        Message of the verses:  9  It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.

10  For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

 Paul says the same thing in verse nine that he says in 1:15.  This is something that is found in the Pastoral letters and could be something that was used in the early church.  Paul has a point to make after he says what he said in verse nine and that point is made in the following verses.  Paul is saying why the believer should work and labor is because of the hope that the believer has.  Hope in the New Testament means something certain and not something uncertain.  He goes on to say that our hope is in the living God and then says that He is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.  Paul is not teaching that all men will be saved (universalism.)  All people on the earth benefit from the grace and mercy of God, however those who are believers benefit much more.  God causes the rain to fall on the just as well as the unjust.  He has set up government so that there is not chaos.  These are some of the benefits given to all men by God.

        Spiritual meaning for today:  I must focus on the hope that lies within me and therefore work for the night is coming when no man can work.  What a wonderful salvation God has provided for me and therefore I need to be about the work of telling others about this salvation that is available to all who believe.

The Word of God has brought both hope and conviction to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:

To worship the Lord in Spirit and in Truth today at our services in our church.  To enjoy the company of family and friends.

 

Memory verses for the week: Romans 1:16,17

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; for it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”