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- Apr 25, 2006
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3 March 2008
A week of Lent Reflections taken from "Hope in Word, Hope in Action" - storiesofhope.org.uk
Word on the Web
Hope is... victory over suffering
But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.
Psalm 9:18
My challenge in ministry
I met a young man called Phillip outside a pub, and our conversation eventually turned to God. He was adamant there was no God. "When you die, you die", he kept repeating. I asked him where his hope was. He replied, "There is no hope, it's hopeless. It's all about the here and now. Life is for living". I couldn't help thinking that behind what appeared to be an arrogant, angry man was someone who was hurting deep inside and blamed God for his pain.
A reflection for Lent
I have been reflecting on the hope we get from Christ in and through our suffering. Psalm 9 echoes the theme of hope that God will not forget the needy and afflicted. Jesus has not promised to take our trials and suffering away, but he has promised he will stand with us. The cross is where Jesus suffered and died for each of us. He knows about our pain because He has suffered. We have a glorious hope to come with Jesus in eternal life, when our pain and suffering will be gone, and we shall see him face to face. What a glorious day that will be!
Lord Jesus, thank you for the hope you give us in our suffering. Thank you that you identify with our pain in your death on the cross. Thank you for giving us hope for the future through your resurrection. Help me to spread your good news to all who don't know you. Amen.
A week of Lent Reflections taken from "Hope in Word, Hope in Action" - storiesofhope.org.uk
Word on the Web
Hope is... victory over suffering
But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.
Psalm 9:18
My challenge in ministry
I met a young man called Phillip outside a pub, and our conversation eventually turned to God. He was adamant there was no God. "When you die, you die", he kept repeating. I asked him where his hope was. He replied, "There is no hope, it's hopeless. It's all about the here and now. Life is for living". I couldn't help thinking that behind what appeared to be an arrogant, angry man was someone who was hurting deep inside and blamed God for his pain.
A reflection for Lent
I have been reflecting on the hope we get from Christ in and through our suffering. Psalm 9 echoes the theme of hope that God will not forget the needy and afflicted. Jesus has not promised to take our trials and suffering away, but he has promised he will stand with us. The cross is where Jesus suffered and died for each of us. He knows about our pain because He has suffered. We have a glorious hope to come with Jesus in eternal life, when our pain and suffering will be gone, and we shall see him face to face. What a glorious day that will be!
Lord Jesus, thank you for the hope you give us in our suffering. Thank you that you identify with our pain in your death on the cross. Thank you for giving us hope for the future through your resurrection. Help me to spread your good news to all who don't know you. Amen.
