Word for Today, Wed, 25 Feb 2004: Hope That Lasts

#1 · February 25, 2004, 11:16 am

Quote from Forum Archives on February 25, 2004, 11:16 am
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Word for Today, Wed, 25 Feb 2004: Hope That Lasts

Dear friends,

This week, we introduced the topic of renewing our minds. So
far, we've looked at Neil Anderson's discussion of renewing your
mind, the Weekly Verses collection from Phil Ware, a few of my
own comments, and Larry Davies' message about healing comfort.

Today, Neil Anderson writes a message of hope. That's a big part
of why believe - so that we have something to look forward to,
something to hope for. Without hope, we become hopeless. With
hope, we are energized and encouraged. Note, however, that there
is hope, not only for the future, but for the present as well.
As we continue to renew our minds, let's renew them today with a
fresh outlook, filled with hope - for today, for tomorrow, and
forever.

Dear Lord, each day and throughout the day, our minds need
regular cleansing and renewal. Please fill us with Your Spirit,
cleanse us from all that is unclean within us, and draw us ever
closer to You. I ask these things in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Yours in Christ,
Brian

____________________________

NEIL ANDERSON'S DAILY IN CHRIST
from Freedom in Christ Ministries

February 25

HOPE FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as
yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be
like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone
who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is
pure (1 John 3:2, 3).

As children of the sinful first Adam, we were obstinate and
ornery, helpless and hopeless, with nothing in ourselves to
commend us to God. But God's love overruled our unloveliness.
Through Christ God provided a way for us into His family. As
God's adopted child, you have been given a new identity and a new
name. You're no longer a spiritual orphan; you're a son or
daughter of God. Romans 8:16, 17, tells us, "The Spirit Himself
bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if
children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ."

If you're beginning to think you are some one special as a
Christian, you're thinking right--you are special! Your
specialness is not the result of anything you have done, of
course. It's all God's doing. All you did was respond to God's
invitation to be His child. But as a child of God, in union with
God by being in Christ, you have every right to enjoy your
special relationship with your new Father.

How important is it to know who you are in Christ? There are
countless numbers of Christians who struggle with day-to-day
behavior because they labor under a false perception of who they
are. They see themselves as sinners who hope to make it into
heaven by God's grace, but they can't seem to live above their
sinful tendencies. Why can't they live the victorious Christian
life? Because they have a misperception of who they are in
Christ.

But look again at the hope-filled words of 1 John 3:2, 3. What is
the believer's hope? That he will someday be changed into
Christ's image? That's part of it, but that's only a future hope.
What is your hope for today and tomorrow? That you're a child of
God now! You must see yourself as a child of God in order to live
like a child of God. The blessed hope for the believer is "Christ
in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

Thank You, Father, for the glorious hope of being Your child. I
want to live in the security and blessing of that reality today.

-----------
This daily devotional is published and distributed by
Crosswalk.com. It is written by Neil Anderson at
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.19314.1.293748.

Additional devotionals are available from Crosswalk.com:
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.19314.2.293748.
-----------
To read current World news stories, National news stories, and
commentaries, visit
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.19314.3.293748
-----------
For Copyright Terms visit
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.19314.4.293748

FREE Christian Book
l.salemweb.net/swnoffer0203/UMna/

____________________SUBSCRIPTION INFO_______________________

* Copyright (c) 2004 Salem Web Network and its Content
Providers. All rights reserved.
____________________________________________________________

=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

__________________________________
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Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

This week, we introduced the topic of renewing our minds. So
far, we've looked at Neil Anderson's discussion of renewing your
mind, the Weekly Verses collection from Phil Ware, a few of my
own comments, and Larry Davies' message about healing comfort.

Today, Neil Anderson writes a message of hope. That's a big part
of why believe - so that we have something to look forward to,
something to hope for. Without hope, we become hopeless. With
hope, we are energized and encouraged. Note, however, that there
is hope, not only for the future, but for the present as well.
As we continue to renew our minds, let's renew them today with a
fresh outlook, filled with hope - for today, for tomorrow, and
forever.

Dear Lord, each day and throughout the day, our minds need
regular cleansing and renewal. Please fill us with Your Spirit,
cleanse us from all that is unclean within us, and draw us ever
closer to You. I ask these things in Jesus' Name. Amen.

Yours in Christ,
Brian

____________________________

NEIL ANDERSON'S DAILY IN CHRIST
from Freedom in Christ Ministries

February 25

HOPE FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as
yet what we shall be. We know that, when He appears, we shall be
like Him, because we shall see Him just as He is. And everyone
who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is
pure (1 John 3:2, 3).

As children of the sinful first Adam, we were obstinate and
ornery, helpless and hopeless, with nothing in ourselves to
commend us to God. But God's love overruled our unloveliness.
Through Christ God provided a way for us into His family. As
God's adopted child, you have been given a new identity and a new
name. You're no longer a spiritual orphan; you're a son or
daughter of God. Romans 8:16, 17, tells us, "The Spirit Himself
bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if
children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ."

If you're beginning to think you are some one special as a
Christian, you're thinking right--you are special! Your
specialness is not the result of anything you have done, of
course. It's all God's doing. All you did was respond to God's
invitation to be His child. But as a child of God, in union with
God by being in Christ, you have every right to enjoy your
special relationship with your new Father.

How important is it to know who you are in Christ? There are
countless numbers of Christians who struggle with day-to-day
behavior because they labor under a false perception of who they
are. They see themselves as sinners who hope to make it into
heaven by God's grace, but they can't seem to live above their
sinful tendencies. Why can't they live the victorious Christian
life? Because they have a misperception of who they are in
Christ.

But look again at the hope-filled words of 1 John 3:2, 3. What is
the believer's hope? That he will someday be changed into
Christ's image? That's part of it, but that's only a future hope.
What is your hope for today and tomorrow? That you're a child of
God now! You must see yourself as a child of God in order to live
like a child of God. The blessed hope for the believer is "Christ
in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).

Thank You, Father, for the glorious hope of being Your child. I
want to live in the security and blessing of that reality today.

-----------
This daily devotional is published and distributed by
Crosswalk.com. It is written by Neil Anderson at
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.19314.1.293748.

Additional devotionals are available from Crosswalk.com:
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.19314.2.293748.
-----------
To read current World news stories, National news stories, and
commentaries, visit
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.19314.3.293748
-----------
For Copyright Terms visit
link.crosswalk.com/UM/T.asp?A1.14.19314.4.293748

FREE Christian Book
l.salemweb.net/swnoffer0203/UMna/

____________________SUBSCRIPTION INFO_______________________

=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: http://www.geocities.com/masinick/

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Mail SpamGuard - Read only the mail you want.
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