Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

God’s searching after you!

“The angel of the LORD found Hagar near a spring in the desert.” Genesis 16v7

This verse from the Bible Reading chat for today says so much about the Father heart of God.

Hagar had come from Egypt and was a maidservant to Sarai. You would have thought that would have been wonderful, but she was mistreated by both Sarai and Sarai’s husband, Abram. So she fled into the desert. Hagar was a badly treated, immigrant maidservant: she was in a low place. The Bible often focuses on the line to Jesus, but here the focus is on Hagar – yet is not in the line of Jesus and in fact, her descendants would prove to be a persecutor of the Jesus line.

There is no logical reason for our Father God to reach out for her, but he does. He searches for her. It is just like Jesus explains in the parable of the lost sheep – where the assumption would be that he would focus on the 99, but he goes after the lost one. Hagar seemed insignificant, but to God she is special and precious.

Not all that the Lord says to Hagar is favourable, nor is it comfortable – he tells her to go back to her mistress and to submit to her – ouch! Nothing could have been harder for her! But this visit from God is life-changing, and she gives God a new name, “You are the God who sees me.” (v13)

Whatever you face today, may you know that it is the LORD who seeks you – yes, even you. May you know the visit of God, may you know that he is the One who sees the whole story – yes, all you have been through. May you be able to say today “You are the God who sees me!”

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

God’s common grace!

“Even though every inclination of his/her heart is evil from childhood.” Genesis 8v21

Every single human experiences God’s grace. They may not recognise it, but it is part of their experience. We see that in the above verse in the Bible group reading yesterday.

The whole verse from Genesis says, “And [God] said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things. ²² As long as the earth remains, there will be planting and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night.” (NLT)

God is “saying to himself” (NLT) or “speaking from his heart” (NIV). This verse is giving us his very deep thinking:

• He sees the sin of us humans, he knows that evil comes from deep inside us, he knows this is coming even from our early years. There is no point in trying to keep anything hidden from God.
• Yet this verse begins with “Even though.”   Yes, despite his knowledge of all the evil that is within us, God decides from his heart that he is not going to curse the ground again and nor is he going to destroy all living creatures, but he will secure the rhythms of planet earth until the end. This is God’s grace – he does not treat us as our sins deserve.

This truth of God’s grace applies even to the very worst of people in our society. God’s grace is not a denial of the wrong, but it is an act of love.

Much later, Peter will say, “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3v9). Peter is explaining that God has not yet ended the world, because he desires for all to repent and be saved. Yes, your neighbours and work colleagues, your family and your friends are right now under the common grace of God. Thank you Lord!

The moment we think we deserve God’s blessings, even the simple things of life, we have an attitude problem. He gives them to us despite what we deserve.

May you recognise the grace of God in your life today – even in the simple things of life.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

God’s desire for you!

“The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden.” Genesis 2v15

In the perfect world of Genesis 1 and 2, God had very close friendship with Adam and Eve. I notice the following phrases from chapter 2:

“The LORD God formed the man” – for me, “formed” implies care in how God has shaped us.

“The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden to work it and take care of it” – God has prepared provision for us, ordering it in a beautiful way, and has entrusted us with responsibility to care for it.

“The LORD God commanded the man” – he gives us instructions so that we may live well

“The LORD God … [brought the animals] to the man to name” – “naming” the animals implies an authority, and so God has given us authority on earth

“The LORD God made a woman” – God provides for our relational needs as well as our physical needs.

“The LORD God, as he was walking in the garden” (ch3) – he comes and desires to be with us. That is his choice!

Sin has spoiled so much of this, but Jesus brings us back into connection with this same LORD God as heavenly Father. He knows your deepest need and the LORD God desires to fulfil that in you so that you may be complete in every way. No wonder Jesus can say “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6v33

May you know God’s desire for you today.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Jesus’ heart of compassion

“He had compassion on them.” Matthew 14v14

Everywhere Jesus went he had a heart of compassion for those who were suffering or rejected. It is out of compassion that he touched the leper and met with the outcasts. It is his compassion that causes him to heal the sick, feed the hungry, to mourn with those who mourn, and to teach those who want to know.

Whatever your situation now, Jesus is filled with compassion for you. In the Gospels, he deliberately sought out those who needed his compassion. He said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” (Matt 9v12) He draws near to those in need. He is willing to touch, to heal, to forgive, to restore, to make whole. That is our Jesus.

The above was my plan for this week, but this seems particularly pertinent as we cry out to God for him to show his compassion to Otega and others who are suffering in our fellowship at this time!

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

How does Jesus feel about you?

“I am gentle and humble in heart.” Matthew 11v29

While I was away, I had the privilege of reading some devotional books. One of them was, “The HEART of JESUS – How he Really Feels about You.” The first chapter was focussed on the familiar verses I shared on Sunday, “Come to me you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11v28-30.

How do you feel Jesus feels about you?

Jesus is not cold and demanding. At his very heart, he is “gentle” and “lowly”.

“Gentle” means he is not reactionary or harsh. He is not easily irritated by you. He is sensitive to how you are feeling. His heart is to welcome you with a warm embrace.

“Lowly” or “humble” (either word is a good translation) means he is accessible and willing to serve you. He has your own best interests at heart. You do not need to raise yourself up to him, but as you open yourself up to him, he stoops down to you to lift you up. You do not need to jump through hoops to receive the Father’s love, you just need to come. And when you do so, he will serve your best interest.

Do you feel heavy today? Do you feel under a mighty burden? Is there something that you just wish you were able to shake off? If so, we can tend to shy away, but that is actually the very qualification for coming to Jesus! Do not stay away, but come in close. As you do so, you will find rest – rest for your soul!

In John Bunyan’s “The Pilgrim’s Progress”, as Christian gazes at the cross, his heavy burden loosens from his shoulders and rolls away down the hill into the tomb – never to be seen again.

May you know God’s rest in your soul today.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week                                                                        

A John or a Jonah?

As followers of Christ, we are sent out on His mission to:

1) Preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and call men to repentance.

2) Continually bear witness to Him as the Light of men and the giver of eternal life (salvation).

Of John the Baptist, it was written (John 1:6-7):

There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. Truly, John brought many to repentance and to believing in Jesus Christ (the Light). John was a sent man who went on the mission God assigned to him, thereby living his life within the context of fulfilling God’s purpose.

On the other hand, the Bible says of Jonah (Jonah 1:1-3):

The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.

Like John the Baptist, Jonah was also sent by God to a sinning civilisation, but he rather ran away from his mission. He went down to Joppa and went as far as paying a fare to Tarshish…! Though he later got things right but at what cost? A storm that dearly cost those he was on the ship with, he was thrown into the sea, his companions lost their merchandise, he spent 3 days and nights in the belly of a great fish (imagine the discomfort), he wasted his own time, etc.

Truly, when we deliberately ignore the mission God gives us, like Jonah, we go down …. there are consequences….and sadly, many may not be so lucky/opportuned with time to get it right again (pause and think).

There are no neutrals in this matter: Every day of our lives, we are either running to God and His mission or running away from Him…So, will you be like John or like Jonah?

May God help us to be committed and intentional, living everyday by the power of His Holy Spirit as people on His mission to do His will and reconcile a lost world to Him in Jesus name, amen.

With love and blessings,

Otega.

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Sent by Jesus!

“[Jesus prayed to the Father,] ‘As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world’” John 17v18

At the heart of the Gospel is Jesus calls us. And part of his call is a sending out:

• Jesus’s first call was “come to me and I will make you fishers of men”
• He sent out the 12 to take the Good News of the Kingdom (Matthew 10v5)
• He sent out the 72 to take the Good News of the Kingdom (Luke )
• He sent out the 11 to make disciples (Matthew 28v19)
• Jesus anticipated we would all be going “to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1v8)
• The early church sent people out on mission (Acts 13v3)

Sometimes, when I was a child, my mum would send me to the corner shop for something. When I went, I was going in her authority, with her money, to do her will. Similarly, as people sent by God into this world, we are sent under his authority, with his resources, to do his will.

Let’s live in the light of his sending and equipping!!

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

The Spirit for All!

“In the last days, God says, I will pour out might Spirit on all people…” Acts 2v17

It was on this coming Sunday around 33AD, that Peter declared that this promise was fulfilled. God had given it to the prophet Joel around 900 years previously. From both Joel and Peter’s perspective, we are now in the last days – the days of the Holy Spirit poured out. This is our age, our time.

The scope of the pouring is clear – on all people. The Holy Spirit is not limited to the odd one or two, but is poured out regardless of age, status or gender. The only caveat Peter gives is, “Repent and be baptised every one of you  … for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (2v38)

Just now, I dropped my parents off in Tewkesbury. On the way back I listened to the biography of Charles G Finney. He had no religious background, but his study of law led him to the Bible, and his study of the Bible led him to repentance and to seek after God. His seeking of God led to the Holy Spirit coming in power. He was never the same again: the Holy Spirit in him caused revivals in the 1830s and 40s in both the US and the UK, with the impact of those arguably still with us today.

Whoever you are, whatever your status, it is time to seek more of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit today!

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

The Spirit of Help!

“He will give you another Helper to be with you forever – the Spirit of Truth…” John 14v16 (NASB)

Today is Ascension day – the day Jesus went back to heaven. It was a day of great loss for those first disciples as their Lord and Master was gone. But Jesus had briefed them and it was actually to be a great day of joy. Jesus was returning to the heavens to be with His Father and to rule supreme.

He gave his disciples a simple instruction – to wait in Jerusalem. They needed to wait because the Father was going to send them something better than the presence of Jesus. On earth, Jesus would come and go, but they were going to receive the Holy Spirit who would be with them all the time.

Jesus described the Holy Spirit as “another Helper.” The Greek word “paraclete” is hard to exactly translate, but its literal meaning is “one who is called alongside”, and was used of someone who helped alongside you in a legal case. The key word here, though, is “another” – meaning that the Holy Spirit is someone who is going to do the job of Jesus with us.

This is enormously encouraging. We can sometimes think, “If only I was around when Jesus was around, things would have been much better.” Jesus says that is not actually true because the Holy Spirit comes as the Spirit of Christ to be with you absolutely all the time.

As we celebrate Jesus ascended to glory, let’s also ask the Holy Spirit to fill us and help us today.

With love and blessing,

Roland