HOPE, NOT FEAR

By TRAVIS KUTER

"He shall not be afraid of evil tidings." Psalm 112:7

Trials from within, and from without, are nothing new to the world or the Christian. Today, many seem to be shaken, or shaking, with the barrage of news about the stock market, oil prices, and politics. Dear hearts let us be reminded that as Christians we should not be fearful concerning these things. The Christian should not dread the arrival of bad news.

Are we distressed like the world? Distracted like the world? Fearing like the world? Are we so in love with the world, and what we have that we are afraid of losing it all? It may be that we do lose much or all -- here on earth. But our hope is not here. Not in flesh and blood. Not in Democrat or Republican. Not in the future of the economy or stock market, or 401K, or any other thing or any other person---is it? None of these can help us.

As the old hymn says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness”. I like that, don’t you? Don’t those words cheer you just a little? Our hope is in God – “And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You” (Psalm 39:7). Our hope is in Christ! “The Lord Jesus Christ, our hope" (I Timothy 1:1). We encourage others with our hope “O Israel, hope in the LORD; for with the LORD there is mercy” (Psalm 130:7). We should continue in hope. “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (I Peter 1:13). We hope in Christ’s glorious appearing. “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:13-14).

Now, I hope you enjoy this encouragement from C. H. Spurgeon on Psalm 112:7, to take courage, and have continued confidence in the faithfulness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ:

"Christian, you ought not to dread the arrival of evil tidings; because if you are distressed by them, what do you more than other men? Other men have not your God to fly to; they have never proved His faithfulness as you have done, and it is no wonder if they are bowed down with alarm and cowed with fear: but you profess to be of another spirit; you have been begotten again unto a lively hope, and your heart lives in heaven and not on earthly things; now, if you are seen to be distracted as other men, what is the value of that grace which you profess to have received? Where is the dignity of that new nature which you claim to possess?

"Again, if you should be filled with alarm, as others are, you would, doubtless, be led into the sins so common to others under trying circumstances. The ungodly, when they are overtaken by evil tidings, rebel against God; they murmur, and think that God deals hardly with them. Will you fall into that same sin? Will you provoke the Lord as they do?

"Moreover, unconverted men often run to wrong means in order to escape from difficulties, and you will be sure to do the same if your mind yields to the present pressure. Trust in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. Your wisest course is to do as Moses did at the Red Sea, ‘Stand still and see the salvation of God.’ For if you give way to fear when you hear of evil tidings, you will be unable to meet the trouble with that calm composure which nerves for duty, and sustains under adversity. How can you glorify God if you play the coward? Saints have often sung God’s high praises in the fires, but will your doubting and desponding, as if you had none to help you, magnify the Most High? Then take courage, and relying in sure confidence upon the faithfulness of your covenant God, 'Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid'”

(From Morning & Evening, Sept. 15).

THE WORD-NECESSARY FOOD

BY CHARLES SPURGEON

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).

If God so willed it we could live without bread, even as Jesus did for forty days; but we could not live without His Word. By that Word we were created, and by it alone can we be kept in being, for he sustaineth all things by the Word of His power. Bread is a second cause; the LORD Himself is the first source of our sustenance. He can work without the second cause as well as with it; and we must not tie Him down to one mode of operation. Let us not be too eager after the visible, but let us look to the invisible God. We have heard believers say that in deep poverty, when bread ran short, their appetites became short, too; and to others, when common supplies failed, the LORD has sent in unexpected help. But we must have the Word of the LORD. With this alone we can withstand the devil. Take this from us, and our enemy will have us in his power, for we shall soon faint. Our souls need food, and there is none for them outside of the Word of the LORD. All the books and all the preachers in the world cannot furnish us a single meal: it is only the Word from the mouth of God that can fill the mouth of a believer. LORD, evermore give us this bread. We prize it above royal dainties.

From Faith’s Checkbook for July 4^th. Emphasis mine-cw