Hope Mennonite Fellowship Church
Looking to Jesus
February 25, 2023
As Christians, we often face challenges that test our faith. We may feel discouraged, lost, or overwhelmed, wondering if our faith is strong enough to endure. However, the Bible reminds us that we have a perfect example to follow - Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 12:2 ESV, the author writes, "Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
This verse reminds us that Jesus is the founder of our faith. He came to earth, lived a sinless life, and died on the cross to save us from our sins. He showed us what true love, forgiveness, and humility look like, and through his death and resurrection, he offers us eternal life.
But Jesus is not only the founder of our faith - he is also the perfecter of our faith. This means that he is constantly working in us to help us grow in our faith and become more like him. When we face challenges and difficulties, we can look to Jesus for strength and guidance. He endured the cross for us, despising the shame, and he now sits at the right hand of the throne of God, interceding for us.
So what does it mean to "look to Jesus"? It means that we turn our hearts and minds to him, seeking his will and guidance in every aspect of our lives. We study his word, pray, and spend time in worship, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us and transform us from the inside out. We also follow his example by loving our neighbors, serving others, and living a life of humility and obedience to God.
When we look to Jesus, we find the strength and courage to endure whatever challenges we may face. We can trust that he is with us every step of the way, and that he is working in us to perfect our faith. As we journey through this life, let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.
God Hears
February 25, 2023
Psalm 22 is a psalm of lament written by King David. It is a powerful expression of David's pain and anguish as he cries out to God for help. In verse 24, David declares, "For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him."
This verse reminds us that God does not despise us when we cry out to him for help. He does not turn away from our pain or ignore our pleas. Instead, he hears us when we cry out to him and he is willing and able to help us in our time of need.
Sometimes we may feel ashamed or unworthy of God's help. We may feel like we have sinned too much or gone too far away from him to be deserving of his grace and mercy. But the truth is that God loves us unconditionally, and he desires to help us when we turn to him in faith.
In Matthew 7:7-8, Jesus says, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." This verse reminds us that God is always willing to help us when we ask for his help.
We may not always receive the answer we want or in the timing we expect, but we can trust that God hears our prayers and that he is working for our good (Romans 8:28). We can also take comfort in knowing that we are not alone in our struggles. As Psalm 34:18 says, "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."
As we journey through life and face challenges and difficulties, let us remember that God hears us when we cry out to him for help. Let us have faith in his love and his willingness to help us. And let us take comfort in knowing that we serve a God who does not despise us, but who loves us and desires to help us in our time of need.
The Season of Lent
February 25, 2023
Lent is a season of the Christian year that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Easter Sunday. It is a time of reflection, repentance, and preparation for the celebration of Christ's resurrection. During Lent, we are called to examine our lives, confess our sins, and turn our hearts back to God. As we journey through this season, one passage that is particularly relevant is Psalm 51 ESV.
Psalm 51 is a prayer of repentance that was written by King David after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had arranged for her husband to be killed in battle. In this psalm, David acknowledges his sin and asks for God's forgiveness and cleansing. He recognizes that his sin has not only hurt others, but it has also damaged his relationship with God.
This psalm is a reminder that all of us are sinners in need of God's mercy and grace. During Lent, we are called to examine our own lives and confess our sins before God. We may not have committed adultery or murder like David, but we have all fallen short of God's standard of holiness. We may have lied, cheated, gossiped, or harbored bitterness in our hearts. Whatever our sins may be, Lent is a time to bring them before God, confess them, and turn away from them.
Psalm 51 also reminds us of the power of God's forgiveness and cleansing. David says in verse 7, "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, we have been given the opportunity to be cleansed and forgiven of our sins. When we confess our sins and turn to God in faith, he promises to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
As we journey through this season of Lent, let us take the time to reflect on our lives, confess our sins, and turn our hearts back to God. Let us remember the power of God's forgiveness and cleansing, and let us seek to live lives that honor and glorify him. May Psalm 51 be our prayer and our guide as we seek to grow in our relationship with God and prepare our hearts for the celebration of Christ's resurrection.