Psalm 42:5 and 11 (NLT) 5&11Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!
Micah 7:7 (NIV) 7But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
1 Peter 1:3 (NIV) 3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
History records many important time periods and I will reference two of them for today’s devotional on hope. Both were significant periods of hope in the timeline of humanity; but hope held very different definitions in each period.
The Renaissance Period occurred approximately 1400s-1600s after the Middle Ages. It was a time of secular hope placed in man’s self-confidence and trust in one’s own accomplishments. It was a time of self-assurance and self-affirmation. There was a cultural “rebirth” in art, science and humanism. Renaissance Hope places one’s trust in man.
By contrast, The Reformation Period occurred toward the latter part of the Renaissance approximately 1500s-1600s. It was a time of revival toward God and away from secularism. It was the renewal of hope placed not in man’s ability, but in God’s sovereign control. There was a spiritual “rebirth” in salvation through faith alone; a belief in Scripture alone; and the promised Blessed Hope of Christ’s return. Reformation Hope places one’s trust in God.
We still see evidence of both Renaissance Hope and Reformation Hope in our world today. Christians hold fast to Reformation Hope and we place our trust in God’s sovereign and providential control. We are confident of the future hope of the resurrection and soon return of Christ Jesus. Yet all the while, the world and it’s Renaissance Hope—hope in self—grows astoundingly pervasive.
Romans 15:13 (NIV) 13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Renaissance Hope or Reformation Hope—which do you choose? Hope that places one’s trust in man, or hope that places one’s trust in God?
Gracious Heavenly Father,
As the world draws us toward all things self-oriented, draw us back closer to You. You are the God of all true hope—a living hope through the resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ. We place our hope in You.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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Write From My Heart at https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
Email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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