Scripture Read: 1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Savior, and of Christ Jesus, who is our hope
Application: When we claim to everyone we know that a relationship with Jesus Christ has changed our lives, what do we mean? How has this relationship changed our lives? That is a justified question that deserves an answer. What about “I tried Christianity and it didn’t do anything for me!” I have met individuals that feel that way justifiably…and I sympathize. The sad part is that many do not listen to scripture carefully. The Word never claims that Christianity can bring hope. Nowhere does it say that religion can satisfy the deepest needs of the human soul. So when someone has tried a system and called it Christianity, yet finds it wanting, I understand. When you do not have the Person of Christ in the system – it is no longer Biblical Christianity – it becomes Churchianity! (Not a real word, but still a reality) Without the Person of Jesus Christ involved in an intimate, growing relationship it is all a religion, which is nothing more than a system of beliefs to guide one’s life by. Where is the hope in that? Notice what this word conveys:
Hope - ἐλπίς elpís - desire of some good with expectation of obtaining it.[1]
A system cannot supply that! Life is too fluid to try to live within a methodology that is so rigid. It does not give, it only breaks, either your commitment to the religion, or it breaks you. You lose you, and become another clone that walks in goosestep to the demands of the system. This is not so with Jesus Christ. He allows mistakes, failures, even rebellion. He celebrates victories and maturity. He deals with each individual and each circumstance on their own merit and with an appropriate response. With one believer that fails, He might teach a very important lesson, with another one He might just encourage them to push on and try again. With one believer that rebels He might spank with a firm hand to awaken them and keep them from even more danger, with another one He might extend mercy and see if that grace stirs the heart to return. CHRISTianity is about Jesus and a relationship with Him. Having paid the debt of sin in FULL, defeating the sting of the grave and now offering a relationship into a family whose Father is the Creator – we have a hope than no one can understand! Get that! You can’t understand it, you can ONLY experience it! In Jesus we have the hope that the impossible IS possible. We have the hope that we never die, we just sleep. No more permanent separation for any in Christ. Our hope is to see Him and each other forever in eternity. No religion can produce this, only a God – the Godman – Jesus Christ.
Meditation Questions: Do you sense hope in what you believe in? What does that look like? When you identify who you are, do you think of a group, a denomination or a person? What does that say? Why does God want us in local churches? What is the danger if we do not become a part of a local Body? What is the balance needed? The Lord encourages us to be there for one another, but where should our hope be? So when individuals leave the church because they are disappointed in people what does that show?
[1] Zodhiates, S. (2000).
The complete word study dictionary : New Testament (electronic ed.). Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers.
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