Hope...

Jesus- the Saviour for the sinner- the giver of hope. 

^"This is what the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." ~Jeremiah 29: 10-12

I love these verses... We read time after time after time in the Old Testament how the Israelites turned from God only to be handed over to their sin and rebellion.  Then in the midst their anguish, crying out in repentance to Jehovah God, and finally ... deliverance.  Even in the midst of their suffering for having turned away from God so many years earlier, God Almighty shows He loves them and gives Jeremiah a reminder of His great promise... even though they turned from Him, He gives them a message of hope- He has plans for them and doesn't want them to be discouraged in their circumstances.  He has a future and a hope for me... and for you as well.

The following message from Nancy Leigh DeMoss of Revive Our Hearts on the story of Rahab gives me great hope.  Like Rahab the prostitute, I don't want to forget from where God redeemed me... don't get me wrong I don't want to dwell on my sordid, sinful past and beat myself up about it... but I always want to remember the state I was in when my Redeemer  pulled me out of that miry clay.  We identify Rahab as prostitute.... though my label wouldn't necessarily be 'prostitute' it would be something.... I'll have to think about it for a bit... if I were in the Hebrews Hall of faith maybe it would say: and Wendy the_____...  What would your label be?    Anyway, take the time to read or listen to Nancy's message on Rahab.

http://www.reviveourhearts.com/radio/revive-our-hearts/legacy-rahab/

Blessings

W