Word for Today, Thu, 15 Jul 2005: God's Promise: Genuine Hope
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
Thank you once again for being a part of this ministry, a place
where we can stretch ourselves beyond what is comfortable to a
place where we will ultimately find real lasting peace - and
ultimately, comfort as well.
We've been looking at the promises of God. Let's now look at yet
another of God's promises from a somewhat different perspective.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
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Finding Genuine Hope
Dr. Michael Youssef, Leading the Way
In Luke 24 we have the amazing story of two disciples who had
followed Jesus for three years. They loved Jesus. And were close
to Him.
One day they were walking on the road back to Emmaus when Jesus
joined them. Yet, they were so discouraged over His death they
didn't even recognize Him. Because of what I call "mistaken
contemplation," they had lost all hope.
What do I mean by "mistaken contemplation"? Simply this: We take
our eyes off the risen Christ and instead focus on our problems.
And what happens when we do that? We quickly lose hope.
Throughout my life, when I find myself facing a major crisis or
dilemma, I tend to be the kind of person whose vision becomes
blurred, and I can't see clearly. In these moments I find my
perceptions are shot.
Why? Because my contemplations are all one-sided. And I often
shut out the very people who can deliver me from my mistaken
contemplation.
Now, I have a feeling you probably struggle in the same
way... just like these two disciples from Emmaus. Notice that
their vision was blurred about the very person who was walking
and talking to them. Their contemplations were entirely wrong.
The One whose death they were mourning was alive and talking with
them, but they did not realize it because their focus was on the
wrong thing. The very One whose death they were feeling so deeply
was in fact alive and with them, yet their vision was
blurred. Their contemplation was one-sided.
But notice what happened when they suddenly recognized who Jesus
was...they became changed people!
33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they
found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and
saying, "It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to
Simon." 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and
how Jesus was recognized by them when He broke the bread.
They walked back immediately that night on that dangerous road to
Jerusalem to give witness. Their safety did not mean a great deal
to them, because they had seen the risen Christ!
They moved from fear to courage. They went from pain to joy. They
were transformed from hopelessness into hope.
My friend, that is the story of Easter. No matter how hopeless
your situation might seem, the Lord is there. He knows and
understands. And when you take your eyes off your problems and
place them on the risen Christ you will find genuine hope. Just
like these two disciples from Emmaus.
You can live a life filled with hope, but only as you make
Jesus...our risen Lord...the focus of your contemplation. When
you do, you will find that any other focus is indeed a mistaken
contemplation!
Dr. Michael Youssef is the founding pastor of The Church of The
Apostles in Atlanta, Georgia. He has a degree in theology from
Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia, as well as a
master's degree in theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. He
also has a doctorate in social anthropology from Emory
University. Leading the Way is Dr. Youssef's radio and
television ministry, which broadcasts throughout North America,
the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Learn
more at http://www.leadingtheway.org
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/
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