5 Reasons for HOPE - “One thing you lack” (Part-4)

Mar 10:21- Then Jesus, beholding him, loved him and said to him, One thing you lack. Lam 3:21-26 The reason I can still find hope is that I keep this one thing in mind (GNB): It is by Jehovah's kindnesses that we are not destroyed, because His mercies never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. Jehovah is my portion, says my soul; therefore I will hope in Him. Jehovah is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope for the salvation of Jehovah, even in silence.

Greeting Friend!,

The “ONE THING” that we study this week is the most important scripture portion of Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet. He wrote the book of Lamentations as an eye witness during the fall and destruction of the Jerusalem and the Holy temple. Jeremiah was known as ‘weeping prophet,’ he cried, Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! (Jer. 9:1)

In spite of all these sin, slavery, fall and destruction, Jeremiah looks at the character of God and recalls hope. God is the Hope of the hopeless.

Lam 3:21 - Yet hope returns when I remember this one thing: 

In the previous verse, memory of Jeremiah brought him discouragement, “My soul continues to remember these things and is so discouraged” (Lam.3:20). But in V21, He gains hope by using the same memory (Ps.77:11) Memory needs to be a good servant. 

Mic. 7:7 & 8- But as for me, I will look unto Jehovah; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, Jehovah will be a light unto me. 

Peter exhorts the believers to give the reason for the hope, “but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason of the hope in you, with meekness and fear” (1Pe 3:15), and Jeremiah here gives the…  

5 reasons for the hope based on the Character of God. 

1.     God is merciful 

“It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed” 

Here are mercies in the plural number, denoting the abundance and variety of those mercies. God is an inexhaustible fountain of mercy, the Father of mercies.

This fact was even true of the prophet, that he died not in prison, or in the dungeon; and of the people of the Jews, who though many of them perished by the sword, famine, and pestilence, yet God did not make a full end of them, according to his gracious promise (Jer. 30:11)

Psa. 103:8-10- The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger forever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 

Lord Jesus paid the price and saved us from eternal destruction. We are not consumed because he took all our punishment. It was for our sins, and in our stead, that our Lord Jesus suffered. We have all sinned, and have come short of the glory of God. Our sins deserve all grief and sorrows, even the most severe. We are saved from the ruin, to which by sin we become liable, by laying our sins on Christ. This atonement was to be made for our sins. And this is the only way of salvation. Our sins were the thorns in Christ's head, the nails in his hands and feet, the spear in his side. He was delivered to death for our offences. By his sufferings he purchased for us the Spirit and grace of God, to mortify our corruptions, which are the distempers of our souls. We may well endure our lighter sufferings, if He has taught us to esteem all things but loss for him, and to love him who has first loved us. 

Henry says, “The church of God is like Moses's bush, burning, yet not consumed; whatever hardships it has met with, or may meet with, it shall have a being in the world to the end of time. It is persecuted of men, but not forsaken of God, and therefore, though it is cast down, it is not destroyed (2Cor.4:9), corrected, yet not consumed, refined in the furnace as silver, but not consumed as dross” 

Neh. 9:31 But for Your great mercies, You did not completely destroy them nor forsake them. For You are a gracious and merciful God. 

2.     God is compassionate 

“…because his compassions fail not” 

God is love and Compassionate and they are everlasting. Our God is not only God of love but He is love and His love is never changing. 

Psa. 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Mic. 7:18 & 19- Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes by the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not keep His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will turn again; He will have compassion on us. He will trample our iniquities. Yea, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

Here is beautiful poem from Kindergarten which I use as a prayer most often: 

He came to my desk with quivering lips the lesson was done

Have you a new sheet for me dear teacher? I’ve spoiled this one;

I took his sheet all soiled and blotted and gave new one all unspotted

And to his tried heart, I cried, do better now my child. 

I went to the throne with a trembling heart, the day was done

Have you a new day for me dear master? I’ve spoiled this one;

He took his day all soiled and blotted and gave me new one all unspotted

And to my tried heart, He cried, do better now my child.

His compassion never fails. We may fail Him but He is always gracious and compassionate

Mat 9:36- But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd.

We are debtors of God’s love and God’s compassion. Because he received us as the father received the prodigal son. And he arose, and came to his father. But while he was yet afar off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. (Lk.15:20). We need to love him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). 

3.     God is faithful 

“They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” 

Num. 23:19- God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

Psa. 89:1 & 2- I will sing of the mercies of Jehovah forever; with my mouth I will make known Your faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up forever; You shall establish Your faithfulness in the heavens.

Psa. 36:5 Thy mercy, O LORD, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reaches unto the clouds.

Heb. 10:23 let us hold fast the confession of our hope that it waver not; for he is faithful that promised:

"Great is Thy faithfulness," O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

"Great is Thy faithfulness!" "Great is Thy faithfulness!"
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
"Great is Thy faithfulness," Lord, unto me!

4.     God is my portion. 

“Jehovah is my portion, says my soul; therefore will I hope in him” 

Num. 18:20- And Jehovah said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any part among them. I am your part and your inheritance among the sons of Israel 

The reason of this law was, partly because God would have them wholly devoted to his service, and therefore free from worldly riches; partly, because God had abundantly provided for them otherwise; and partly that by this means being dispersed among the several tribes, they might have the better opportunity for teaching and watching over the people. Priests being employed in the work and service of God, and having a peculiar nearness to him, and communion with him.  

1Pe 2:5 says that all believers in Christ as Priests unto God, “you also as living stones are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  

All believers in Christ are, have God for their portion and inheritance; God, in his persons and in all his perfections, and under every character, as the God of nature, providence, and grace, is the portion of his people; and a rich, large, and satisfying portion he is, and which is inexhaustible, and will endure forever; he is their portion in life and at death, in time and to all eternity. 

Jer. 10:16 The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance: Jehovah of hosts is his name.

Jer. 51:19 The portion of Jacob is not like these; for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance: Jehovah of hosts is his name.

Psa. 73:26 My flesh and my heart fails; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

5.     God is good. 

“Jehovah is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeks him”  

God is good, to all and all the time and to especially for those who wait on him. Hope is essentially necessary to faith; he that hopes not cannot believe; if there be no expectation, there can be no confidence. 

They that wait for him shall not be ashamed, or disappointed of what they expect; they shall renew their spiritual strength, and grow stronger and stronger; they shall inherit the earth, the new heavens and the new earth; enjoy many blessings now, and have good things laid up for them hereafter, eye has not seen, nor ear heard. “And kings shall be thy nursing fathers and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their faces to the earth, and lick the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah; and they that wait for me shall not be put to shame” (Isa 49:23) 

Isa 40:31- But they that wait for Jehovah shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not faint.

Exo.33:19- And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and will proclaim the name of Jehovah before thee; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

Psa.23:6- Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I shall dwell in the house of Jehovah forever.

Isa.63:7- I will make mention of the loving-kindnesses of Jehovah, and the praises of Jehovah, according to all that Jehovah hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his loving-kindnesses.

Rom. 11:22- Behold then the goodness and severity of God: toward them that fell, severity; but toward thee, God's goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

Conclusion: 

The remembrance of the Character of God brings Hope. Paul gives wonderful testimony of how God brought hope in him. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 2Co 12:9 &10

Psa. 130:7 Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.          

We will be the Happy Children, if we learn to receive affliction as laid upon us by the hand of God. God works all things for good (Rom8:28). Look unto God, only he can give you the hope that you need. God alone can help, therefore, lets us hope in Him. 

We have studies 5 attributes of God and HE expects the same characteristics from us too.  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. (Gal 5:22 &23).

May God help us to find hope in Him and wait on Him and may we be leading the fruitful lives in His sight.   

With Warm Regards, 

Parimal Kumar Yangala.

P.S. - Thank you for reading this blog. Please pray for this initiative.

“One thing you lack” (Part-3)

Mar. 10:21- Then Jesus, beholding him, loved him and said to him, One thing you lack. Ecc. 12:13 (GNB) After all this, there is only one thing to say: Have reverence for God, and obey his commands, because this is all that we were created for.

Greeting Friend!,

The “ONE THING” that we study this week is a part of the Epilogue of the Book of Ecclesiastes. Based on the prologue of the Book, we know the writer of Ecclesiastes is Solomon (1:1&12). Solomon wrote this Book probably in the last years of his life, primarily to warn the young people to avoid human wisdom and to fear God.

The Key phrase that we see in this Book is “all is vanity”. Solomon, the Wise Man used this word 38 times declaring that many things life are difficult to understand and produce no meaning for life.

Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. What is the profit to a man in all his labor which he labors under the sun? (Ecc. 1:2&3)

The Phrase “under the sun” is found 30 times in the Book. So as per the Solomon, all is vanity under the sun.

But we need to know that all is vanity only if we live our lives under the sun. We need to learn to live the life above the sun.

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Be mindful of things above, not on things on the earth. Col 3:1&2 

The Hebrew word translated “vanity” expresses the futile attempt to be satisfied apart from God. If we live our lives as per the worldly standards with worldly world view of life, all is vanity.

Happiness and the life’s meaning are not found Lower World but it is to be found in Heavenly places and heavenly things. 

Vanity of vanities, says the preacher; all is vanity. And more than that, the preacher was wise; he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he listened, and looked, and set in order many proverbs. The preacher sought to find out pleasing words; and words of truth written by the upright. The words of the wise are like goads; yes, their collected words are like nails driven home; they are given from one Shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be warned: The making of many books has no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep His commandments. For this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good, or whether evil. Ecc 12:8-14. 

The Wisest man who has ever lived, the king of Israel, after speaking on various issues of man’s life and human wisdom, tells greatness of God’s Word. Solomon tells us that there is no good profit for reading the books written out of human wisdom. All the books written by men will go away but only God’s Word will endure forever.  

God is our Shepherd, and the Preacher here uses the two Shepherd’s tools to explain us the importance of God’s Word. (1.) Goads.  (2.) Nails.  God’s Word motivates the reluctant sheep (like goads) and secures the sheep from wondering to enemy’s territory. 

At the end, the Wise man, one who had the best knowledge and experience of wealth, pleasure, power and wisdom tells about the ONE THING that a man need to do. 

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep His commandments. For this is the whole duty of man. (Ecc 12:13) 

Fear God:  

The same wise man talks emphatically about fearing God and its implications, in the Book of Proverbs.

1.      Pro_1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

2.      Pro_8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

3.      Pro_9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

4.      Pro_10:27  The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

5.      Pro_14:26 In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

6.      Pro_14:27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.

7.      Pro_15:33 The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.

8.      Pro_16:6  By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

9.      Pro_19:23  The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

10.  Pro_22:4  By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

What is the meaning of “fear God”?

Fearing God can be two ways; one may fear God because God may hurt him, which is the bad fear and the other may fear God because he may hurt God, which is the good fear.

We can know from the Bible that God can be hurt because of our wrongs deeds. Scriptures records in many places that, God was grieved. God is our Shepherd and we are His Sheep and we need to make him a happy Father all the time. (as I mentioned in the New Year’s Devotion)

So let us fear God and not hurt Him, because He sent His son, Lord Jesus to this world. Lord Jesus came and shed His blood for us. He gave His everything to me. God, help, that I may never hurt you. 

Keep His Commandments:

And Jesus answered him, the first of all the commandments is, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." This is the first commandment. And the second is like this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Mar 12:29-31 

Let us patiently read the few verses from God’s Word.

1.      Mat_19:17 And He said to him, if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.

2.      Joh_14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.

3.      Joh_14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.

4.      Joh_15:10 If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

5.      1Co_7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.

6.      1Jn_2:3 And by this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commandments.

7.      1Jn_2:4 He who says, I have known Him, and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

8.      1Jn_3:22 And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

9.      1Jn_5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, whenever we love God and keep His commandments.

10.  1Jn_5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.

11.  2Jn_1:6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.

12.  Rev_14:12 Here is the patience of the saints. Here are the ones who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

13.  Rev_22:14 Blessed are they who do His commandments, that their authority will be over the Tree of Life, and they may enter in by the gates into the city.

We need to fear God and keep His commandments so that we may stand boldly before the Judgment of seat and may enjoy the life in eternity with the Lord Jesus. 

That is why Solomon tells that, “Rejoice, in your youth, young man; and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment”. (Ecc. 11:9)  

May God helps and bless us so that we may get Lord’s appreciation on the Day of Judgment!

With Warm Regards, 

Parimal Kumar Yangala. 

P.S. - Thank you for reading this blog. Please pray for this initiative.