Daily Devotions – Walk in Hope

Daily Devotions – Walk in Hope

 

Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:

 

1 Timothy 1:1-11 (ESV)
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Warning Against False Teachers
3 As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Certain persons, by swerving from these, have wandered away into vain discussion, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, without understanding either what they are saying or the things about which they make confident assertions. 8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, 9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, 10 the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted.

 

When did God become your hope?

 

Sovereign Lord, there are so many experts out there. People preach and lecture to sway others to follow their ideas and concepts. Some of them are out of sincere concern for something, but some are for false pretenses where they benefit from promoting lawless, disobedient activities. Sometimes it is hard to discern what is sincere, accurate, and worthy of listening to. And in the midst of all the conflicting information is uncertainty, fear, confusion, and despair. Help me to measure all things by Your Word. Help me to desire to understand Your Word and separate evil from good so that I can make confident assertions about it. Let me filter my decisions through Your Love so that I can perceive issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. Your Word is filled with Love. You loved all sinners enough to die for all of their sins. You have made a way for all to have eternal salvation with You through the cross and by Your grace. With that comes the hope of eternity. The hope that although society is dark, uncertain, and chaotic, I have a sure solid path to follow in You and Your Word. I am confident where that path leads and I can walk boldly without fear. Thank You, Lord, for Your Hope of Salvation. Walk with me in that hope today. Amen.