Our Hope: The Father's Faithfulness

I'll share some reflections on the past week which my family and I spent at Camp Simmie.  It was a refreshing week for me: the people there are awesome, the kids had a blast, the worship was Spirit-filled, and the speakers were out of this world (I may be a little biased).  During the morning study session, I led us in thinking about the hope that we have as God's people.  It is a pretty basic concept but it is one that we need to return to constantly.  

All we have to do is look around us at the world in which we are living to get discouraged.  It could be the pile of bills waiting to be opened and paid, a sickness of a family member that is causing them pain and discomfort, or just the everyday grind of life.  We were reminded this week that these things were not in God's original design (they are a result of humanity's continued rejection of God's working in us) and that they will continue until Jesus comes again to make God's dwelling place with humanity.  But we were also reminded that there is hope in the midst of disconcerting times.  In fact, God alone is the only source of lasting hope that we can have! The next few posts will draw out the idea of our hope being rooted fully in God.  

Our hope is in God the Father's Faithfulness.  When you are reading Scripture, one of the most prominent themes is that of God's action on behalf of His people.  The Bible is a story of God's faithful work in His people.

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The Bible is a story of God's faithful work in His people

Go ahead and read it!  Time and time again, you'll see stories of God's promise and action on behalf of the people He created and loves.  Turn to Genesis 21:1 and you'll see God fulfilling the promise He gave to Abraham and Sarah that they'd have a son in their old age.  
Turn to Genesis 45:4-8 and you'll hear of God's plan for feeding His people in the midst of famine, through the 'disposal' of the despised brother Joseph.  
The whole book of Exodus is one story after another of God's action in bringing His people out from under the oppression of slavery in Egypt.  (Especially Exodus 15 where the story is retold in song).
There are countless other examples that'd I'd encourage you to take note of because we have a God of promises and covenant!

The point of having a collection of such stories is that we need to be reminded of God's faithfulness, His constant action on behalf of His people, His unending love for us in the good times and especially in the bad.  We are quick to forget and quick to complain.  God's Word constantly calls us back to trust in God's all-sufficient action in our lives.  

I'd encourage you to read Psalm 136, which is a retelling of the work of God for His people.  After reading it, perhaps you'd find it helpful to write your own Psalm with the refrain, "His love endures forever."   Fill in the blanks with your story of remembering God's actions toward you.  Here is a template for you to print off, fill out, and keep in a prominent place to remind you of God's faithful work in your life.  

Image: Public Domain, http://pixabay.com/en/rainbow-nature-horizon-colors-110953/