Monday, February 1, 2021
The Spotlight
The other day, our church secretary Linda, asked about the upcoming need for midweek lent bulletins. And as we were discussing the matter, I realized that it has almost been a year since the pandemic began. Yet through it all, I asked myself a question, “What have I learned through it all?” With the pandemic constantly in our midst, it has taught me the importance of where true hope resides.
“I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power toward us who believe.”Ephesians 1:16-19a
St Paul prays for the Ephesians, that they may have true wisdom in the knowledge of God and His Word. Through His Word, they are enlightened as the spotlight focuses upon the true hope to which they were called. In the same way, this is our prayer as well. Through all suffering and affliction, the spotlight turns to the glorious inheritance delivered by the body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Indeed, our hope and faith is Christ who is The Mighty Fortress. And from His glorious gates flow the certainty and assurance of eternal life, forgiveness and salvation. No longer is our hope muddied with thoughts such as, “I hope I have eternal life”, or “I hope God forgives me”, or “I hope God is with me”. Rather, the hope in Christ spotlights your boldness and confidence that in Christ you already have the assurance and gift of His grace. For in the one true faith, we stand firm in the Cross and our Lord’s body and blood which nothing of this world can snatch away: not even death itself.
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken”Psalm 62:5-6
As the world shakes in utter chaos, and wails in the fears of an oncoming disaster, we wait in hope. Not just any hope, but the unshaken hope in Christ who silences and comforts us in His promises. Even in our heaviest burdens, the spotlight turns to the one who defeated death and defanged [Read Christ and Calamity by Harold Senkbeil] the grave by His very resurrection! The Spotlight is on Jesus, the great physician, the author and perfecter of our Faith!
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness;
No merit of my own I claim
But wholly lean on Jesus name
On Christ, the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
Stanza 1 LSB Hymn 575
Blessings in Christ,
✝️ Pastor Jeong
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posted by Jeff Mark
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4:02 PM
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