In the bible God expected his people to obey him and follow all of his laws and commandments, so that they would succeed in his purpose. God ordered Samuel that he needed to appoint a king of Israel among Jesse’s children. The Lord said to Samuel in 1 Samuel 16:7, “Do not consider how handsome or tall he is. I have not chosen him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outside of a person. But the Lord looks at what is in the heart.”
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Deuteronomy introduces the sermons of Moses, when God spoke his word to the people of Israel through Moses. Among those sermons, God affirmed that he had delivered the people of Israel from the captivity of Egypt, because they were troubled and wanted freedom from the Pharaoh. Almighty God gave them mercy and set them free. His original plan was to take them to Canaan. However, because of their disobedience, God punished them by letting then wander in the wilderness for 40 years. God wanted the people of Israel to depend upon him and looked to him for guidance.
 Read: James 1:12-18
Perseverance under trial is the first step on the way to understanding what the wisdom of God is. In the original language of the New Testament, which was Greek, the word, trial is Peirasmois (πειρασμοῖς) which actually has two meanings. The first one is that testing comes from the outside such as poverty or religious persecution. The second meaning here is that testing comes from the inside such as temptation as a result of our sins. The word trial in the verse 12 takes the first meaning, which is trial from outside.  Read: Luke 2:8–14
Our God is joyful! We discover joy is at the very heart of God’s nature of God and in the expression of God’s being. "God our Father, will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17). Jesus gives joy: “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11). The Holy Spirit grows joy: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness” (Galatians 5:22).  Read: Romans 15.1-13
If you were to ask me, where does your hope lie? I would answer, my hope is in God. If you were to ask, how does God give you hope? I would answer, God inspires my hope through you, the people of this church. I have hope because I see the Holy Spirit active in you strengthening relationships, inspiring worship, creativity, outreach and loving service towards our community. |
