2 Corinthians 9:15

2 Corinthians 9:15

Thoughts from Brian Cook

Dive Deeper

The Returning King
Slide

“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”

Romans 8:24-25

Behind the Scenes (1)
Slide

After celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, we can walk into the New Year full of hope for His return. But Jesus didn’t leave us to wander alone, scared, confused, and purposeless. He left us with the Holy Spirit, to guide our actions, to comfort us in times of trouble, and to work miracles for the Glory of God!

Slide

And as our verse says, we can’t see all the details of what we are waiting for. But Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” We may not know the details of what we are hoping for, but we can rest assured that Jesus’ return is going to be so very good.

Slide

As we wait for these things we cannot yet see, I can’t help but wonder what we should be doing in the meantime. I have definitely experienced periods of waiting, in which my time felt wasted and unproductive. As if my only option was to twiddle my thumbs or mindlessly scroll on my phone. But Jesus left us with a purpose and a calling as we wait for him to return.

Slide

He said in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” We are being called to love like God loved, and to serve like God served. We are called to be obedient to the Holy Spirit and joyfully share the good news of what Jesus has done, and the hope that he will return again.

Make it Real (1)
Slide

Recently, my family has been going through a career change and it brought a host of uncertainty into our lives. As an avid planner, I was thrown by the idea that I would have to wait and see about the details of our life. I was asked to wait patiently and hope for the best, which turned out to be outrageously hard. I was overcome with anxiety that the outcomes we were waiting for would not be good. I was surrounded by questions and felt paralyzed by indecision. I gave up on planning for the meantime, for my time of waiting, and I ended up feeling so alone. After having coffee with a friend and spewing all of my anxiety onto the table, she kindly asked me where my faith was in all of this mess.

Slide

Studying the word this week to prepare for this devotional, I was hit with the differences in how I have waited in the past, and how Jesus is calling us to wait for His Return. He has told us that it will be good, we have a guaranteed outcome of goodness to hope for. He has obliterated the uncertainty of what we are waiting for.

Slide

He has given us a calling and a purpose while we wait. He isn’t leaving us in a messy pile of worry, he is calling us and equipping us to move forward, to love and serve and spread His good news! He has given us the Holy Spirit, so that we never have to be alone or lost. This time, as I read the words to patiently and hopefully wait, I am no longer full of dread, but full of peace, excitement, and motivation to get to work.

End in Prayer (1)
Slide

Lord God, thank you for sending your Holy Son to bring grace and forgiveness to our world. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to guide us and comfort us until Jesus returns to Earth again. Thank you for giving us purpose, comfort, and hope in our time of waiting. Lord, we ask that the voice of your Holy Spirit would clearly guide us to love and serve like you. In Jesus name we pray, amen.

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“For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” 

Romans 8:24-25

Behind the Scenes

After celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, we can walk into the New Year full of hope for His return.  But Jesus didn’t leave us to wander alone, scared, confused, and purposeless. He left us with the Holy Spirit, to guide our actions, to comfort us in times of trouble, and to work miracles for the Glory of God!  

And as our verse says, we can’t see all the details of what we are waiting for. But Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” We may not know the details of what we are hoping for, but we can rest assured that Jesus’ return is going to be so very good.   

As we wait for these things we cannot yet see, I can’t help but wonder what we should be doing in the meantime. I have definitely experienced periods of waiting, in which my time felt wasted and unproductive. As if my only option was to twiddle my thumbs or mindlessly scroll on my phone. But Jesus left us with a purpose and a calling as we wait for him to return.  

He said in Matthew 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” We are being called to love like God loved, and to serve like God served. We are called to be obedient to the Holy Spirit and joyfully share the good news of what Jesus has done, and the hope that he will return again.  

Make it Real

Recently, my family has been going through a career change and it brought a host of uncertainty into our lives. As an avid planner, I was thrown by the idea that I would have to wait and see about the details of our life. I was asked to wait patiently and hope for the best, which turned out to be outrageously hard. I was overcome with anxiety that the outcomes we were waiting for would not be good. I was surrounded by questions and felt paralyzed by indecision. I gave up on planning for the meantime, for my time of waiting, and I ended up feeling so alone. After having coffee with a friend and spewing all of my anxiety onto the table, she kindly asked me where my faith was in all of this mess. 

Studying the word this week to prepare for this devotional, I was hit with the differences in how I have waited in the past, and how Jesus is calling us to wait for His Return. He has told us that it will be good, we have a guaranteed outcome of goodness to hope for. He has obliterated the uncertainty of what we are waiting for.  

He has given us a calling and a purpose while we wait. He isn’t leaving us in a messy pile of worry, he is calling us and equipping us to move forward, to love and serve and spread His good news! He has given us the Holy Spirit, so that we never have to be alone or lost. This time, as I read the words to patiently and hopefully wait, I am no longer full of dread, but full of peace, excitement, and motivation to get to work.  

Rebecca Dyer

Rebecca Dyer

ACF Devo Team

End in Prayer

Lord God, thank you for sending your Holy Son to bring grace and forgiveness to our world. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to guide us and comfort us until Jesus returns to Earth again. Thank you for giving us purpose, comfort, and hope in our time of waiting. Lord, we ask that the voice of your Holy Spirit would clearly guide us to love and serve like you. In Jesus name we pray, amen. 

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