"Hope Is For The Future"

"Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel." Psalm 128:6

This whole chapter is about the blessings that are upon those who fear the Lord. When you read the Bible and the stories of the Israelites, you soon discover that besides their God there are two things on earth that are most important to them-- their children and their nation.

It was a big thing for them to have a lineage and heritage. In the scriptures if a man passed away his brother was to marry his widow and produce children in his name. Remember the story of Rachel and Leah, it was important for them to "out do" the other in giving children to Jacob. Hannah wept bitterly in the temple for a child. Elizabeth rejoiced to bear a child in her old age.

They also loved their home land and longed for it when they were in captivity. So as I read the verse above I see two things. The first thing I see is that the Lord tells us what the blessing is-- you will have a long life and see your grandchildren and you will see peace in your land. The second thing I see is hope. The two things they longed for are not always evident in the present, they are future happenings. But they had hope that they would see them.

Hope is not needed when the thing is seen. Hope is always for a future event. We know what we hope will happen in the future, but we can't see the future we can only see now. Even though we can't see the future, God can. And because He can see ahead He allows us to have a "glimpse" at it and gives us a promise of what is to come. So if you are waiting to "see" something that is still in the future, be encouraged. God is a God of hope and He is watching over your life-- from the past, at the present, and into the future.

Have a great day. Hope is always directed at what is still in the future. God is a God of hope and is watching over your future.

For further reading:
Hebrews 11:1
Romans 8:24,25

 

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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell

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"Too Busy To Eat"

"As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby." 1 Peter 2:2

My little granddaughter has reached the stage where she is "busy"- she doesn't just sit still any more, she wants to explore everything. This makes feeding her a real challenge. She's too "busy" looking around- she likes to look behind her, at the floor, at the ceiling, and she doesn't want to sit still either, she is constantly trying to get out of her high chair. You almost have to "chase" her little mouth down to find it and give her her food.

My little granddaughter has to eat physical food in order to get the nutrition her body needs to develop properly and grow. We also have to have spiritual food so our spirit man will grow and develop. But too many of us are like she is when it comes to "eating" our meal. We are too busy "exploring" other things to sit down and eat and drink from God's word. If we aren't eating natural food we will suffer from malnutrition. If we aren't eating God's word we will suffer from spiritual malnutrition.

There is one difference between the two. If she doesn't eat well or skips a day she won't have malnutrition, it comes through a process of neglecting to eat. Where the spirit man is concerned, if you go without eating the spiritual meat of God's word, spiritual malnutrition begins to take place immediately- it doesn't come through a long process of neglect. This is why we can't afford to miss even one day of reading God's word.

Where are you today? Is God having to "chase" you down to get you to read His word? Are you too busy exploring (involved in) other things to take time to "eat"? If so, this is why you are feeling "spiritually sluggish"- you're experiencing symptoms of malnutrition. Get back to the "table" and "eat". Spiritual malnutrition can be reversed, but you have to start eating and keep eating.

Have a great day. You can't be so busy with other things that you neglect to "eat" God's word- your spiritual well being depends on it.