Hope In Jesus

“He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy” (Psm. 147:10,11). This is a really significant passage of scripture for those who are honest of heart, and desire to do God’s will in their lives. So what is it that is so significant about it? Well, let’s look at another passage that gives us the answer loud and clear: “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy” (Rom. 9:15,16). So we can will and we can run, and we can huff and we can puff; but unless God gives shows us mercy we are going nowhere at all with him. We certainly are NOT going to do his will in our lives unless he gives us the desire and the power to do so. It all comes back to hoping in his mercy, as the passage from the Psalms states. That is who he takes pleasure in, because that is who knows his reality for what it is. It i also certain that those who “hope in his mercy” are going to be those who also “fear him,” as the passage also states. We will surely fear God if we truly understand that we can do nothing unless he makes us able by his grace and power. The scriptures are replete that God’s will is for us to be without sin in our lives, so that we can walk purely in his love and holiness (Eph. 5:1-11). The following passages make that crystal clear: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Tit. 2:11-14). This one says the same exact thing, with one more telling detail: “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath THIS HOPE in him purifieth himself, even as HE is pure” (I Jn. 3:2,3). That’s what it says; “even as he [Chirst] is pure.” Now that’s talking about PURE my friend. And this scripture says it again with just a little different wording: “But AS he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Pet. 1:15,16).

Now you don’t need me to tell you that these things are just not going to happen unless God supplies us with what it takes to get the job done. But in reality this is exactly what Jesus suffered, died, and rose again to accomplish for us, so it’s a fact that God is MORE THAN willing to give us what it takes to keep ourselves pure in his holiness. If we will humble ourselves and believe on him for his love and grace, and his power, he will surely keep us supplied with the power of his Spirit that it takes to purify ourselves before him daily. It was great, great mercy that sent Jesus from heaven to accomplish these things for us, and he stands ready every day to meet the deepest and greatest needs of those who trust in his mercy. We don’t call ourselves to him to begin with, and we can’t continue in holiness unless we look to him daily in much prayer and faith for his strength to do it (Jn. 6:44; Jn. 15:16). But if we respond to his calling, receive the power of his Spirit in our lives, and call upon him daily, he WILL continue to uphold us in that same grace and power that we begin this journey in (Jn. 7:38,39; Acts 1:8; Col. 2:6). No matter what state we may find ourselves in, the answer to our problems is always to “fear him, [and to] hope in his mercy.” He will never fail those who are of that mind and attitude. Some would rather pervert and twist the scriptures to appear as though it is acceptable with God for us to remain sinners. There are plenty of so called ‘Christian’ doctrines that support that kind of spiritual garbage. But those who know and believe that “it is God which worketh in [them] both to will and to do of HIS GOOD PLEASURE,” they subsequently realize that they must “work out [their] own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philip. 2:12,13). I would say that is very good reason to “hope in his mercy,” because if he DOESN’T “work in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure;” it just isn’t going to get done at all, and that would be a major problem for us. I also assure you my friend that “his good pleasure” is not for us to remain sinners. That is not what Jesus died and rose again to accomplish. For those who know and believe, “Without holiness no man shall see the Lord,” fearing God and hoping in his mercy will always procure God’s grace and power to overcome sin and “purify [themselves] even as he is pure.” (Heb. 12:14; Rev. 3:5). For those who understand that ONLY “the pure in heart” are blessed, and that they alone will “see God;” the fear of God and the hope of his mercy is the ONLY route to that end (Mat. 5:8). And for those who truly believe that they will have to be “blessed and holy” to attain unto the resurrection of the just; the fear of the Lord and hoping in his mercy is just simply all they have (Rev. 20:6). But you know what? IT IS ENOUGH!! Amen.