DEVOTIONAL
Romans 15:13Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Now those of you who know me well, understand that I am a huge Alabama football fan (I don’t just have an odd affinity for a closet full of houndstooth).

Needless to say, I was more than a little disappointed that the team did not pull off the win of the year last night in the Sugar Bowl.

It seemed as though Alabama was naturally assumed to be a contender for the national championship. The commentators, the polls, everything indicated that we were one of two competing for the bragging rights as winner of the first-ever play-off contest.

Somehow, though close victories, we made it to yesterday’s game as #1 for weeks, then the hammer fell! We came within seconds and a narrow margin, but watched as defeat was snatched from the jaws of a possible victory!

As so often He does, the Lord used even that game as a lesson in putting trust and hope in what mankind can accomplish! How ridiculous was it for me to sit there on the edge of my seat, pulse racing, expecting a group of young men to perform what the sports world would have probably deemed a “miracle”!

My hope belongs in the One Who can actually accomplish something, anything! I need to place my trust and hope in things which are eternal and not those temporary “rushes” borne in a moment of excitement.

What IF they had won? Okay, then there would have been another game, another opportunity for them to win or lose. There’s always going to be “another game”.

Our hope and faith belongs in Christ ALONE, for which there has never been before or never will be again! If we miss out on hoping and trusting in HIM, there will be no other chance!

It is so heartbreaking to hear of people who say they are “waiting” to put trust in the Lord because they realize that with that comes the expectation of obedience and conviction. They just aren’t willing to give their lives over to Him because they want to “enjoy” their sin. When they are old and tired, THEN they will consider a “death bed” confession, getting the “best of both worlds”.

Well, friends, we know that none of us has the luxury of knowing when we will face death. Living a sinful life, unwilling to commit to following Christ is dangerous! By doing this, one is putting hope and trust in SELF. “I know what is best for ME”.

Like me watching the end of that game, expecting some grand play to pull the team through the finish line with a big “W”. Some unbelievers continue in sin, pursued by the Lord, yet they cling (with one eye wide opened to the pleasures of this world and one squinted, worried that devotion to Christ will be the death of enjoyment), to belief that they will seize that opportunity and run into the end zone, victorious. There, they were able to live life “their way” and STILL capture the prize of eternal security! FOOLISHNESS!
Let’s pray, not as “holier-than-thou”, but as appreciative children of the Most High, who realize but for the grace of God go we, for those who have adopted such a mentality.
Here is to 2015 and beyond, hoping and trusting in those things eternal, not in our children, nor success, football players (regardless of remarkable athleticism), or even ourselves. May our hope be in Christ ALONE, Who is able to do GREAT things!

Prayer
God
Our Father and Lord
Thank You for being our HOPE
Almighty King
You are our Master
Our Creator
Our Healer
You are our Everything
We can do nothing without You
We thank You for the strength You give
For the intellect to think
May we ever give You credit
For understanding
For ideas
Talent
Ability
You Are the Giver of all good things
Father, when You see us putting our hope or trust in other
People or things
Lord, please make us aware that it is You
We are to believe in and nothing or no one else
Lord, we thank You for confidence
But let us not misplace that in ourselves
We recognize and offer thanks right now for Your
Power and Authority over all things
Through the Blood of Your Son
Shed that we may have life eternal
Our Precious Jesus,
Amen

Songs

“Nothing But The Blood of Jesus”

“My Hope Is In You”