Sumter Pastor Joey Durham: We can enjoy hope found in the Lord
The devotion today is titled, "Hope is only in the Lord," and my text is Psalm 146:5. "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God." (KJV)
There is a hymn that we sing at the church, and it goes like this. "My hope is built on nothingless, than Jesus' blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name."
In my opinion, our nation is experiencing great distress today as a result of efforts being made by many of our leaders working hard to destroy this great country that we've been blessed to call home. If we were to settle our attention on these efforts to destroy our nation, there would be an overwhelming sense of hopelessness that would invade and could possibly overcome our hearts.
But for the believer on Jesus Christ, we can find refuge in the truth of our text. We can enjoy the hope that is found only in the Lord!
In 1 Peter 1:20-21, we have this same thought reinforced for us who have trusted Jesus Christ as our own personal Savior. "Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God." (KJV)
Many today, even they who know Jesus Christ as their Savior, have their hope in their career and their retirement portfolio. Many have their hope in a possible change in who will occupy the seat behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.
While it is commendable to be diligent to work hard and achieve your God-given potential in your career and also to vote to elect people to our nation's leadership that will honor our Constitution and work to protect our country, our hope as believers on Christ comes from remembering what God has done for us in saving our soul.
Our hope grows even more by remembering that this world is not our home and remembering that our Lord will return to deliver us from this world of sin and sorrow very soon. Our hope is anchored in the Bible fact that we are eternally secure in Jesus Christ and that He is working in and through us for His glory and our good. The chorus to the aforementioned hymn says, "On Christ the solid rock I stand! All other ground is sinking sand! All other ground is sinking sand!"
Joey Durham is pastor at Open Bible Baptist Church at 180 Old Manning Road in Sumter. You can contact Pastor Durham at durham.joey@yahoo.com or call the church office at (803) 481-9315.