Holding Fast To Our Hope In Jesus

"Today's Devotion" For November 23, 2005

Read: Hebrews 10:19-35; Psalm 1

HOLDING FAST TO OUR HOPE IN JESUS

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promises is faithful. and let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works." (Heb. 10:23-24).

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the United States. It's a national holiday, declared so by an act of Congress and proclaimed by the President each year. For most Americans, it's a day of feasting and family time. A number of us will attend worship services where we will take the time to give special thanks to God for all His gifts and blessings to us as families, individuals, and a nation. While we're doing these things, there are about 150,000+ of our fellow citizens who are in harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan, many of them taking the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving where they are - grateful for the gifts and blessings of God that still abound to them in a foreign and hostile environment.

Having spent a number of Thanksgivings away from my home and family while serving in the military, I can assure you that each of those men and women serving in "harm's way" are more than grateful for every blessing they have. Life is more precious and valuable than it has ever been. The sound of their loved ones' voices, a photograph, a recording, a phone call, a video conference call, an email, a letter, a package - these are all received with deep gratitude and thanksgiving to God. They are gifts from God which keep those men and women in uniform grounded in their faith, their service, and their commitment to the cause of freedom for those they serve.

I can't help but wonder sometimes how really grateful we are for those very freedoms that our military is fighting to establish for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. As a high school announcer for a wide variety of varsity sports it's one of my responsibilities, particularly in the absence of a band, to lead the fans in our National Anthem. It's been my observation for a number of years now that people appear to have lost a sense of pride and thankfulness for what it means to be a citizen of this nation. I observe people standing for the anthem, but not singing; I observe people talking to each other during the anthem; I've observed that it's a very rare thing for people to put their hands over their hearts while singing the anthem - this is especially true for the young people, but I've seen it in their parents as well. At the same time, I've also observed that those who do take this "ceremony" seriously, often nudge their neighbors to follow their examples (such as removing their caps and, at least, standing quietly in respect). In displaying a higher standard, one group of individuals influences another to a higher standard for themselves.

We live in a nation that has been a beacon of hope to the "huddled masses" for well over 200 years. It has been a place where refugees and immigrants have come, often falling on their knees to kiss the soil and give thanks to God for their new opportunities for hope and freedom. The people of God, redeemed in Jesus Christ, truly understand what new opportunities for hope and freedom are, as we have been brought out of the slavery of Sin into the marvelous light of God's grace, mercy, and peace. We have God's own promise that He will never leave us or forsake us, and, as the writer to the Hebrews notes, we are fully assured of these things because God is faithful.

Living in the promises of God, touched daily by His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Jesus Christ by faith, we have the privilege to "stir up love and good works" through our examples of faithful, godly living. We have the privilege of not only "holding fast to our hope in Jesus," but in living that hope for all to see, and sharing that hope so that others, too, might have hope as well. We have much to be thankful for as God's people in Jesus Christ. We have much to be thankful for as citizens of the United States of America. We have so many opportunities to "stir up love and good works," not only in our families, churches, communities, states, and the nation, but also around the world, wherever we go with the message of hope, love, peace, forgiveness and freedom upon which - regardless of the inane prattling of the "intellectuals" who dispute the Christian foundation of the nation - this nation was founded and still stands. "Holding fast to our hope in Jesus" we are blessed to be a blessing to others and examples of God's peace and love to all the world in Christ. It's a great blessing and one for which we give endless thanksgiving and praise to Him who is faithful.

Prayer: Father, I thank You for all Your blessings to me, especially the hope You have given me by faith in Jesus. Help me to live in that hope, filled with Your peace and forgiveness every day, so that I might be one who "stir(s) up love and good works" in all those whose lives I touch and who touch mine. I pray also that You would so fill Your children, my fellow citizens of this nation and of heaven, who are serving in far places and in 'Harm's Way," that their actions in the cause of freedom, justice, and peace might be carried out "holding fast to our hope in Jesus." Let their service be examples of faith to all those whose lives they touch so they, too, might come to know Your love in Christ, and be thankful for the same hope that Jesus has brought into our hearts. In Jesus' precious and most holy name I give You all honor, thanks, and praise. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright ©2005 Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.