Christ is our hope

I know the plans I have in mind for you, declares the Lord; they are plans for peace, not disaster, to give you a future filled with hope. ~ Jeremiah 29:11 (CEB)

God did this because he wanted you Gentiles to understand his wonderful and glorious mystery. And the mystery is that Christ lives in you, and he is your hope of sharing in God’s glory.

We announce the message about Christ, and we use all our wisdom to warn and teach everyone, so that all of Christ’s followers will grow and become mature. ~ Colossians 1:27-28 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

Christ is our hope for the future, so our goal is to grow and mature in him.

PRAYER:

Lord Jesus, you are the hope of the future -- not just for the world but also for me. I admit that I am inconsistent -- that sometimes I seek additional assurances that everything will be alright. But all the additional assurances seem to unravel as time goes by. You, however, hold steady. Help me to find my hope only in you. I'm going to seek greater depth in my relationship with you because you are the hope for the future. Amen.

God is near

Some of you set sail in big ships; you put to sea to do business in faraway ports. Out at sea you saw God in action, saw his breathtaking ways with the ocean... So thank God for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves. ~ Psalm 107:23-24, 31 (MSG)

God made the nations so they would seek him, perhaps even reach out to him and find him. In fact, God isn’t far away from any of us. ~ Acts 17:27 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

God's activities are not confined to any single place or nation.

PRAYER:

God, your vision is so big and wide but mine is so small and narrow. Help me to look beyond my island -- my people -- my family -- my little world. Inspire me with the wonder of your love expressed throughout your big world. I want to help everyone out there discover the love of Jesus and the nearness of God. Amen.

Obeying God rather than human authorities

I praise and honor God Most High. He lives forever, and his kingdom will never end. ~ Daniel 4:34 (CEV)

We must obey God rather than any human authority. ~ Acts 5:29 (NLT)

KEY IDEA:

Our allegiance is first and foremost to God.

PRAYER:

Almighty God, thank you for being in charge. I acknowledge, though, that I'm under a lot of pressure to view other authorities as supreme -- family, friends, government, popular figures... Forgive me for giving in to follow them rather than you. Help me to stand up to the kings of our day as Daniel and the apostles stood up to the authorities of their day. It's all about obeying you. That's my motto for life. Amen.

God's timing

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. ~ Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NLT)

As the two men were about to leave Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it’s good that we’re here. We should construct three shrines: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—but he didn’t know what he was saying. ~ Luke 9:33 (CEB)

KEY IDEA:

It's easy to miss God's timing.

PRAYER:

Lord, you have your time for everything. Thankfully, you have a plan! But I'm cluelessly lost in my own world. Help me to see and sense your timing so that I'm moving with you. Amen.