Tag: jesus

Why Godly Fruit Isn’t Earned, But Grown by the Spirit

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Bearing fruit in season and out of season, like an evergreen planted by a flowing stream, producing vibrant green branches year-round, comes from a heart guided by the Holy Spirit (Ps. 1:3; Jer. 17:7-8).

When Paul talks about staying in sync with the Spirit, he means letting God lead (Gal. 5:25, ESV). When our hearts are transformed by accepting Christ and the Spirit enters, we can start to produce the fruits of the Spirit that mirror God’s character (Gal. 5:22-24). There is an urge to actively cooperate with the new life we’ve received.

The fruit isn’t just something we produce on our own. Spiritual fruit comes from being made in the likeness of God’s image. Day by day, we as Christians can strive to become more like Jesus, who exemplified all aspects of God’s character as a model for us to follow. We are made in God’s image (Gen. 1:26).

Jesus is described as the perfect “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) and the “exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3). He perfectly demonstrated the character qualities we call the Fruit of the Spirit.

On the path to becoming like Christ, we often fall short because of our human nature. The flesh cannot please God without the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and hearts (Rom. 8:8). Paul describes a struggle between flesh and spirit, a division caused by human sin that prevents us from doing what is right in God’s eyes until we accept Christ. Then, the Holy Spirit equips us with the spiritual armor needed to fight battles and push back the devil. The Spirit fights against sin, not just defensively but offensively, developing in Christians the positive qualities of a godly character, all of which are seen in Jesus in the Gospels (Gal. 5:22-23).

The Spirit’s essential role in equipping the believer is to strengthen us.

  • Defensive and Offensive: The Holy Spirit doesn’t just passively wait; He actively fights against sin. This is the power that overcomes the “works of the flesh” (Galatians 5:19-21) and enables the believer to “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16).
  • Spiritual Armor: The armor described in Ephesians 6:10-18 is often seen as the tools given by God, with the Holy Spirit acting as the active force that helps us use them effectively (e.g., the “sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”).
  • Positive Development (Fruit): The ultimate offensive move of the Spirit is the positive development of godly character—the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, etc.). This fruit embodies the very character of Christ being formed within us, making the Christian progressively more resilient against sin and temptation.

Isaiah prophesied about a child from David’s line, “There shall come forth a shoot and a branch from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him” (Is. 11:1-2, Emphasis added). He was speaking of Jesus the Messiah. He ruled with the help of the Spirit (Is. 4:2). He is described as the root and descendant of David, the bright and morning star (Rev. 22:16).

Jesus set an example for living and invited everyone to wash their robes—no longer living in their old ways (Rev. 22:14). While we wait for His return, we can trust in His promise that we will be together again (John 14:2). Essentially, the Holy Spirit is the way Jesus remains present with us until His physical return, empowering us to live a holy life and grounding us in the certainty of His promise. It guides us throughout our lifelong journey of becoming more like Christ and producing The Fruit of the Spirit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23).

“He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither” (Ps. 1:3, Emphasis added).

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit” (Jer. 17:7-8, Emphasis added).

Dog Days

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

While my husband and I listened to the news, someone mentioned the ‘Dog Days of Summer.’ Have you thought much about what that means? Apparently, I hadn’t, at least not beyond my childhood understanding. He explained that the “dog days of summer” refer to the hottest and most uncomfortable days of the season, typically about 40 days between July and August.

I chimed in, “That may be true, but it’s also the time when you can’t go barefoot in the dew-covered grass, especially when you have a cut on your foot.”

The look on my husband’s face was priceless. “What?!? I’m trying to follow you, but I have never heard of this before….” (he’s not from Kentucky).

When we stopped laughing, I looked it up and discovered that it was an Appalachian folk tale passed down from who knows when, claiming that the morning dew is poisonous during this time of year. Maybe you’ve heard of it, or maybe you haven’t. I suppose it depends on where you’re from.

Here’s what I found online about the true origin of the phrase:

The phrase has its roots in ancient Greek and Roman times and is not actually about our canine friends on Earth. It is a reference to the star Sirius, which is also known as the “Dog Star.” Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky and is part of the constellation Canis Major (The Greater Dog).

During the summer, Sirius rises and sets with the sun. The ancient Romans, who called this period dies caniculares (“dog days”), believed that the star’s heat added to the sun’s warmth, creating the extremely hot, humid weather.

Although modern science explains that summer heat is due to the Earth’s tilt toward the sun, the traditional dates for the dog days of summer remain widely recognized.

I don’t know much about Dog Stars, but I do know not to go out barefoot in the morning dew — or so I thought.

Now, as for the origin of the superstition, I found this:

It was believed that during the hot days of summer, the dew becomes poisonous. If you had scrapes on your feet, they could get infected, and this was called “fall sores” or “ground itch.” While the poisonous part is a superstition, there is a grain of truth to the underlying caution. High heat and humidity of late summer provide the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Therefore, people who went barefoot with minor cuts on their feet would be more susceptible to infection from organisms found in the soil and damp grass. While the dew itself wasn’t poisonous, the conditions were ripe for getting an infection that would be difficult to heal.

This is an excellent example of a folk belief that gave a practical health warning, even if its reasoning was a combination of superstition and observation.

Can you relate to believing something from your childhood without question? It isn’t until we are confronted by the facts, usually in adulthood, that we even question their validity. I probably have many more examples if I think hard enough.

It made me chuckle, but it also made me think about the beliefs passed down through generations regarding God and the Bible, often without much thought or deeper investigation. This connects to false teachings not only during Paul’s and the apostles’ times but also in the modern day.

In his letters to Timothy, Paul warns about people seeking preachers who tell them what they want to hear, readily accepting myths that match their desires instead of the truth, to justify immoral behavior (2 Timothy 4:4-5; 1 Timothy 1:4).

They cloak it in enough truth to make it believable, but they modify it just enough to serve their desires. That’s the devil’s work. There are warnings about false teaching and not honoring God’s perfect Word. We are not to add to or take anything away from the Word of God (Deut. 4:2; 12:32; Prov. 30:5-6; Rev. 22:18-19).

Back to dogs: our Pitbull, Kerbi, likes to grab whatever he finds while we’re out walking and sometimes gets away with it before I can stop him. The other day, he must have swallowed a chicken bone because when nature called, a small, sharp shard came out the wrong way, causing quite a bit of bleeding and discomfort.

My takeaway: Be cautious about what beliefs you swallow – even a slight deviation from the truth can cause severe pain and damage in the end.

“For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths” (2 Timothy 4:3-4, Emphasis added).

The Sabbath: A Gift from God

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27, ESV, Emphasis added).

Have you taken time to ponder this? The Sabbath is a day of rest that God created as a gift for spiritual refreshment. It is a time to spend with God. God gave us a model for rest after He created EVERYTHING (Gen. 2:2-3). It symbolizes the Heavenly rest to come (Heb. 4:1-11). The day was created to glorify Himself.

There have been many debates over which day of the week is to be considered the “Sabbath” day for rest. Not only that, but Jesus was met with opposition over healing and harvesting food on the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-28; 3:1-6; Luke 13:10-17). Regulations that were not imposed by God but by religious leaders, who, according to The Holman Bible Dictionary, created their own laws and expanded prohibitions, such as banning the untying of knots, to the point that they lost their original spirit but satisfied legal requirements (Brand, 1396).

Jesus showed us that love for others was more important than the laws. He observed the day as a day of worship (Luke 4:16), but His failure to comply with the minute restrictions brought conflict. Jesus didn’t come to please man, but God.

The first Christians, as recorded in Acts 13:14, met on the first day of the week, which was also the Sabbath, to proclaim Christ on the day of His resurrection (Matt. 28:1; Acts 20:7). They viewed the Sabbath and other matters of the law as a shadow of which Christ is the substance (Col. 2:16-23). It meant more to Jesus to help someone in need than to hold by traditional restrictions, not created by God.

Following the establishment of Christianity as the official religion of the Roman Empire, Sunday was officially declared a day of rest. (Brand, 1027).

For many, Sunday is just another day, or just part of the weekend before they must return to work. For others, it is a holy day, set aside for God, and a day they attend church. Others recognize Saturday as the day of rest and worship.

I don’t think the specific day matters as much as the time set aside each week to rest in the presence of an almighty God, praise Him, find spiritual refreshment, and enjoy the gift in honor of Christ. Jesus often escaped the crowds to spend time alone with God.

That can look different for each person, but in my experience, the times I spend it in nature, enjoying God’s creation, are more peaceful and rewarding, bringing a deep sense of rest for body, mind, and spirit than vegging on the couch watching TV.

The challenge is to make an intentional choice to spend time with God, whether it’s in nature, through activities like running, walking, kayaking, hiking, or fishing, or simply sitting quietly in a favorite chair or rocker on the back porch; some may find rest in their garden, digging dirt, or mowing the lawn.

A while back, you may recall, I found my deep Sabbath rest floating in a kayak on a serene lake after a busy week. Whenever and wherever you find yours, the important thing is to escape the busyness of our daily lives and intentionally focus on God, our Creator, thanking Him for the gift of rest and refreshment. The point is that we all need a deep Sabbath rest that connects us to the Creator.

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31, Emphasis added). *This may be another message soon.

“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Ps. 118:24, Emphasis added).

Run with Abandon

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

How do we get to the point that we can run with abandon – because we are always in step and never off track? This is the definition of sure-footedness, but how do we achieve it?

Habakkuk writes about having confidence in God and living at heights even in extreme circumstances (Hab. 3:19, ESV).  The same sentiment is written in 2 Samuel: “He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights” (2 Sam. 22:34, Emphasis added).

Amid life’s challenging mountains, we can still find a secure footing because of our confidence and trust in God. It starts with the fruit in our lives. If we are not bearing spiritual fruit, we will not be secure and are in danger.

Jesus demonstrated to the disciples with a fig tree what happens when we are not bearing fruit. From a distance, the tree looked fruitful; it had green leaves, indicating it should bear figs. Upon closer inspection, however, there was no fruit. Jesus cursed the tree, and it withered. This was indicative of the Jewish people of Jesus’ time who appeared to be bearing fruit but were not (Mark 11:12-14; 20). We can trust God to remove whatever is hindering us from bearing fruit. It begins in our hearts. Still, we must be willing to make the changes and allow God to work in our lives.

I remember years ago when I was miserable, mostly with myself, that I changed jobs to get a fresh start and escape some temptations. I did try to start over, but I was still the same inside, so the same problems presented themselves.

Wherever you go, there you are.

Real change can only happen inside our hearts, with God’s help. Only Jesus can truly change our character. We must want the change and ask for His help. Again, we are meant to eliminate what does not produce fruit. Only then can we run with abandon.

We can ask God to expand our hearts and help us perceive His truth (Psalm 119:32). The Psalmist speaks the language of one ravished with moral beauty – to which there is only one fitting response – to reproduce this beauty or attempt to – in one’s daily life. Not for perfection, but only a yearning, trust, and dependence on God (Ps. 119, ESV Study Bible notes).

I often ask God to reveal anything that needs to change or be removed in my heart to make more room for the Holy Spirit. This can be summed up as being God-inside-minded. It is about shifting our primary focus from the external world to the divine reality residing in believers, with a conscious connection with the Holy Spirit as a source of wisdom, love, and power.

It took me several years to figure out the root of my misery, but once the Holy Spirit transformed my heart, my life changed forever.

I don’t just want the outside to appear fruitful; I want the inside to match so that my life reflects my gratefulness for what Christ rescued me from. I finally removed my mask. That life is gone, and I want nothing to do with anything that resembles it. It was not bearing fruit and withered away at the mighty hand of Jesus upon my confession of faith (Rom. 1:16-17; Heb. 10:22-23).

Is there anything hindering you from bearing fruit? Ask God to reveal it to you and be willing to accept the change that will follow so you can run with abandon to the life God created for you. Take it from me: Wearing masks is a miserable existence. But running – that is where it’s at. Even though I don’t always get it right, I trust God to correct me and cut off anything in my life that is not bearing fruit for His Kingdom—everything for the Glory of God.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps. 119:105, emphasis added).

The Importance of Repentance

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Repentance is a crucial aspect of prayer, clearing the way for God’s will to be fulfilled in our lives. It makes more room in our hearts for His Spirit, which guides and comforts us. If we don’t know what we need to repent of, we can ask God to reveal anything that is hindering His presence in our lives.

In Psalm 51:10, David asks God to create in him a clean heart and renew the right spirit within him. This came after Nathan confronted him with his sin in his life. David’s sin was significant enough that others noticed and held him accountable for it.

Still, there are times when our sin is not as prominent, and we may not realize the need to take it to God and ask for forgiveness and help in changing. Spiritual maturity comes when we openly seek God to help us work on those character traits, emotional responses, and offenses that hold us hostage.

Nehemiah demonstrated a meaningful prayer life modeled after those of Ezra, which included confessing sin as he prayed for others (Neh. 1:4-11; Ezra 9:6-15, ESV). Nehemiah spent four months in intensive intercessory prayer, which provided the power to accomplish God’s will (Neh. 1:1; 2:1, NLT).

Jesus taught his disciples how to pray – not the verbatim words – but the structure that emphasizes how to pray, not what to say (Matt. 6:9, ESV). In verse 12, Matthew notes Jesus’ instruction to ask God to “Forgive us our debts” (Matt. 6:12, emphasis added). The ESV Study Bible notes that this does not mean believers need to ask daily for justification since they are justified forever from the moment of initial saving faith (Rom. 5:19; 8:1; 10:10, ESV).

The repentance I am talking about echoes this sentiment, in that we are not asking to be saved repeatedly; instead, we acknowledge our shortcomings and sinful nature, bringing them to God to restore fellowship with Him when it has been hindered, because we are cautioned not to grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30).

Other aspects of the prayers modeled by these historical figures include our praise, thankfulness, and our unworthiness of Christ’s sacrifice. Intercessory prayer can involve asking for forgiveness on behalf of others (Ezra 9:5-6), depending on God to change people’s hearts.

God nailed our note of debt to the cross (John 19:19-22), and those who are recipients of such forgiveness are so moved with gratitude toward Christ that they are more apt to forgive others who have wronged them (Matt. 6:12), clearing their hearts of resentment and clutter that only harms us.

Taking the time to ask God to reveal our offenses and help us correct them will significantly improve our relationship with Him and with others, and, on top of that, it makes our day run more smoothly and with more joy.

“And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, emphasis added).

Jesus’ Name is Everything

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Anxiety has a way of creeping in. Sometimes, it catches me off guard and pounces like a squirrel that spots a vulnerable nut.

If I wake up a little later than usual or am dealing with a time change that can wreak havoc with my routine, time creeps up on me, and before I know it, I’ve not had my quiet moments with God to set my day off right before heading into a busy workday.

This is when the enemy finds a crack in my armor and slips in to yank my chain with subtle anxious thoughts or feelings. If not put in its place, it can spiral quickly.

My dear husband prays peace over me and reminds me of the pace of grace. I am reminded to breathe! I press pause and take five minutes with God to reset my intentions. I reaffirm my focus and claim the peace Jesus offers (John 14:27, ESV).

Jesus’ name is everything to me because it helps me stop spiraling. He is my peace and Waymaker, calm in the storm, and light in the dark (John 8:12). One whisper of His name settles my spirit and sends the enemy packing. Instead of anxiously striving, I find solace and joy that carries me through whatever the day holds.

Jesus is the living water for our dry, thirsty bones, which need refreshment in any season (John 4:14). I pray for a fresh encounter with the Holy Spirit that revitalizes and strengthens us to persevere until Jesus’ return. As Peter reminds us, God is not slow to fulfill His promise but is patiently giving others a chance at repentance, not wanting anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9).

Perhaps this should light a fire under us to share the Good News with more people. Paul says that everyone who calls on the name of God will be saved (Rom. 10:13). Still, he continues to ask, how will they call on God if they don’t believe, and how will they believe in God if they have never heard the Good News (Rom. 10:14)?  

With this series of questions, Paul highlights the chain of events necessary for salvation through Christ (Rom. 10:14-15). The ESV Study Bible notes the logic of Paul’s plea: People will call on Jesus to save them only if they believe he can do it; belief in Christ cannot happen without the knowledge of Him; one only hears about Christ when someone proclaims their testimony and saving message; the message cannot be declared unless God sends someone to do so.

Let us give hope and show others that Jesus Christ’s name has the power to save and is the weapon of choice against the enemy and darkness of this world.

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns;” (Isa. 52:7; Rom. 10:15, emphasis added).

“Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:38, emphasis added).

Answered Prayers

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Early yesterday morning, I had a painful catch on my side.  I couldn’t take a deep breath or move without a sharp pain. My husband, Daniel, laid his hand on my head and prayed for me.
In a matter of seconds, I felt the pain leave my body. Answers to prayers only sometimes happen instantly or noticeably. Still, we can rest assured that God hears every prayer and is always working. At times, our answered prayers don’t look like what we expect, but God knows best. If you’re like me, you probably get impatient and want to act without waiting, but that doesn’t usually end well and mostly distracts us from listening to and depending on God. 

Having someone to pray with and for me is another answered prayer, but it did not happen overnight. Trust is a big part of our faith in God, and it keeps us from forging ahead on our own. Waiting for His perfect timing is challenging, but it’s worth the wait and always has better outcomes. His way is immeasurably more vibrant and stunning than my tiny brain imagines. God always knows best. He knows exactly what we need and when we need it. We can only see partly because seeing the whole picture simultaneously would be overwhelming.

Consequently, it’s vital to our well-being to allow the One who sees the bigger picture to lead us. If we allow others to lead, it’s like the blind leading the blind. A few years ago, I heard a story about a blind man who wanted to ski. He entrusted a guide to take him down the slopes. Likewise, God is our guide, and our adventures await.  Can we trust God enough to enjoy the journey, even if we can’t see where we’re going?

Ultimately, our hope is secure and anchored in Christ’s promise that we will have a more abundant, splendid paradise at the end of our journey. The troubles in this life are only temporary. But our lives – good and bad alike – will fade away.  That’s not bad news. It’s good news that we have something and Someone to look forward to and that this isn’t all there is. But it’s also important to slow down while we’re here, enjoy the sunrise, pursue a magnificent sunset, and take the time to appreciate all the things that fall in between. We’ll be closer to our Creator in these natural wonders.

The peak season of your life is now.  No matter what age you are. God has a purpose and a plan for your life. I speak from experience when I say a relationship with Christ is a lifesaver. As a late bloomer, I can attest that, with God’s help, we’re never too old to change old life-sucking habits and adopt new life-sustaining ones that make this life more enduring, meaningful, and peaceful. But we cannot do it without God’s help.

May the God of peace fill your hearts and minds with life-sustaining truths and help you believe in the power of prayer, even when we can’t see the immediate answers.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6, HCSB, Emphasis added).

Fear and Awe

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

Have you ever considered what it means to fear God as a believer? This is easy to misunderstand. After coming to Christ, I often wondered about fearing God. Considering His grace and love, I finally knew God as a loving Father. I am in awe of God. How can I also fear him? It turns out that the Hebrew word for fear is often translated as awesome. The believers’ attitude toward God is frequently referred to as respect, reverence, or awe rather than fear (The Holman Bible Dictionary).

However, limiting our attitude toward God to awe and reverence may cause us to lose sight of His divine character, which compels obedience. This obedience is not a fear of punishment but a reverence for His love and power, which we are to revere (The Holman Bible Dictionary). My dad didn’t like it when men gave themselves the title of reverend. I tend to agree. Only God is deserving of that recognition and prestigious honor.

Paul’s letter to the Romans comforts the believer by stating that wrath has been satisfied in Christ, relieving the believer from the fear of condemnation (Rom. 8:1, English Standard Version). This assurance is a testament to God’s love for us. However, it does not release us from accountability to a Holy God whose character demands justice (2 Cor. 5:10). (He also provided the antidote through His Son).

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians speaks to this when he writes that we should “put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” (Eph. 4:22-23, Emphasis added).

When we receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, our convictions are stirred, and we are filled with a desire to please God out of love and reverence. The Holy Spirit becomes our constant companion, guiding us in our faith journey. When I first came to Christ, I was a broken mess. I had no boundaries or the ability to say no, which led me to dark places most of my life. But God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, helped me find my voice and strength in Christ. I finally heard that still, small voice telling me I did not have to allow abusive treatment from others and their disrespectful behavior.

That is when my life began to change for the better. It’s a process. I still made mistakes, but the Holy Spirit’s convictions guided me to God’s intended path. On the other hand, I remember fearing what God would ask of me. That fear was unwarranted, considering what others had demanded of me. God is trustworthy and wants the best for us. God is the best.

The fear I am speaking of is a natural response from the heart of those eager to obey God’s Word, with a humble and contrite spirit (Is. 66:2) and a repentant heart, in awe of a reverent God – which results in true wisdom (Prov. 9:10).

The song “I Surrender” by Hillsong Worship and Matt Crocker recently touched me during a church worship night service. Surrendering to God is an intentional daily choice. As I sat there reading each word on the screen, listening, and singing the lyrics with conviction from my heart and soul, the power of the Holy Spirit moved my spirit and helped me reaffirm my surrender to God.

I challenge you to listen to this song and read the words. Then sing them to God with conviction and let the power of the Holy Spirit have His way out of fear, love, and reverence for a Holy God. It’s life changing.

The best place to be is in the will of the Father, walking in step with the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:25). This is my continual prayer. I don’t always get it right, but God’s grace is sufficient. His power works best in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).

“…my heart stands in awe of your words” (Ps. 119:161, emphasis added).

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” (Prov. 9:10, emphasis added).

Spark of Hope

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

A tiny spark can ignite an inferno. When that spark is hope, it can change a life.

Have you ever considered the enduring hope you received when you first heard the story of Jesus or the freedom you have experienced since? Once we receive the Hope of Christ, it becomes a constant in our lives, not a fleeting moment. The author of Hebrews writes that “faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1, English Standard Version, Emphasis added).

The ESV Study Bible explains that biblical faith is not a vague hope grounded in imaginary, wishful thinking; instead, faith is settled confidence that something in the future – not yet seen – a promise by God – will come to pass because God keeps His promises.

The Holman Bible Dictionary defines hope as the confidence we have because of what God did for us in the past and guarantees our participation in what He will do in the future. This contradicts the world’s definition of hope as a feeling that what we want will happen (Brand, 765).

In the OT, hope was grounded in God’s fulfilled promises in history. Even in Israel’s unfaithfulness, hope was not lost because of God’s faithfulness and mercy. In Jeremiah’s time, he described God as the “Hope of Israel” and a “Savior in time of distress” (Jere. 14:8; 14:22; 17:13). God is still the God of Hope (Rom. 15:13). All the images applied to God in the OT are transferred to Christ in the NT (Brand, 765).

The Holman Bible Dictionary also notes that the two main reasons Christ is the object of our hope are that He is the Messiah (Luke 24:46) and that our Yes is found in Him (2 Cor. 1:20). The second is the unity between Father and Son, unity in nature and in the work of Christ through redemption (John 1:1; Col. 1:19; 2 Cor. 5:19).

There are many references to hope and the anticipation of Christ’s coming. The gift of hope comes through the power of the Holy Spirit to shower us with blessed assurance. God’s promises are our hope to comfort us in all our troubles (Ps. 119:49-50).

Jesus is knocking at the door of hearts – waiting for someone to hear and open it so He can abide within them (Rev. 3:20). The invitation of hope is always open to anyone who asks. When I began serving women through the Sister’s Circle support group, God reminded me through a dream that I was not the one who could fix their problems – I am merely a vessel to show them that the door to the only One who can – is always open. I am grateful for that realization. God uses a believer’s past pains and gains to help others find hope in Christ.

Is there anyone in your life who could use a spark of hope today? Perhaps you can ask God to make you aware of those He places in your path who need hope to ignite their faith like only Christ can do.

The Gift of Reconciliation

by Angela K. Crow-Mitchell

According to The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, reconciliation is the bringing together of two parties, a change or exchange (Brand, 1337).

We can all relate to reconciliation in some form or fashion, whether it be our bank statements that we end up dumping a few dollars into ‘reconciliation discrepancies’ or those who spend hours painstakingly looking for a few cents. Then there are the number of marriages that chalk their divorces up to irreconcilable differences.

The stark truth is that, according to Divorce.com, a significant 57.7% of divorces are labeled as irreconcilable differences. It’s a call to action that some of these couples might have spent more time balancing their bank accounts for a few cents than nurturing their marriages.  

If any relationship merits this category, it would be humans with God after the Fall. Yet, in His profound love for us (Romans 5:8) and his unwavering desire to be in a relationship with His people (Hebrews 8:10), God made a way for us to be reconciled to Him by the gift of grace through Christ (2 Cor. 5:20, ESV).

There are two examples in the Bible where the person who hurt someone takes the initiative to reconcile the relationship (Matt. 5:24; I Cor. 7:11). The ESV Study Bible notes that the opposite is true about God. In our case, the injured party (God) takes the initiative to restore the relationship between Himself and humanity. This unexpected twist is the result of Jesus Christ bringing together God and man with the result of salvation (2 Cor. 5:19).

Only through this union are attitudes transformed, and we humbly and gratefully receive the gift of reconciliation God has already achieved in Christ (Rom. 5:11).

Still, suppose we don’t recognize our sinful nature and need for a Savior. In that case, we won’t seek God or the relationship Christ offers or receive the wonderful gift of reconciliation because of His love for us. Take a moment to reflect on someone you know who may need to hear the message of God’s love – or see it in how we show them love.

“For I am convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow – not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love” (Romans 8:38, NLT, Emphasis added).