The Father’s Hope - Christ in You
Robert S. Totman
April 21, 2008
Do you hope to see Jesus appear in your day-to-day life? If Jesus appeared in your life today, what would that look like? I’m not talking about the rapture here. I’m asking if you see “Grace and Truth” come to pass in your everyday life.
I was at a photo lab the other day and out of the blue the guy behind the counter says, “Are you a minister? Because I’m in deep trouble and I need to be born again.” He’s part of our eternal family today. Was that Jesus showing up in my life? I believe so. Or, how about that birthday gift that I received from a man who I only knew one day, a man who didn’t know that it was my birthday? He gave me a Chevy Tahoe. Was that Jesus showing up? I tell you, it was.
The Bible teaches that hope is stored up for us in heaven. Ever wonder how you might access that hope? Make a withdrawal? And even see its fruit?
I had a dream about hope that stirred me deeply; I pray it will encourage yours.
It was about Robby and me, or so it seemed. He’s my seven-year-old son.
We were face to face and caught up in overwhelming love as we gazed into one another’s eyes. My heart passionately extended to him as I spoke, “There are no limits son. It’s okay to hope for wondrous things.” Over and over I relayed, “Dream big – it’s okay!”
He became so excited, his eyes growing wider, with a great smile of belief and joy; he was “receiving” my message, my heart. We were of one mind – sharing in indescribable love and joy.
He trusted his daddy. He believed me, without any doubts.
We parted. Robby began walking away and I could sense his hope fading with every step.
Speechless, my heart exclaimed, “Oh, go now and hope! Hope big. And, even if your hope shrinks, I will be right here – hoping for you, so very big.” My heart and my will were wrenched to witness his diminishing belief.
Tragic emotions penetrated my being like a sharp arrow as the realization came over me, “I can’t hope for you son! You have to join me in my hopes! I’m assuring you, asserting with all of my being, with all of whom I AM, that as you join me in hope for goodness, so goodness will be!” Dramatically and suddenly, the dream was over and I was wide awake.
Can’t we all hear our Heavenly Father speaking to us through this dream?
The Father has exuberant hope stemming from the absolute certainty of the reality of goodness to come. Nevertheless, all is nullified when we fail to embrace His will. This is shear anguish for Him to be a part of. The Father hopes for us, but He can’t hope for us. Get it? We must do our part and believe; then respond accordingly.
Fear and unbelief are culprits that would stop us from hoping with abandonment. We must keep ourselves “in the Father’s face;” that is, always in His word, where we find abounding enthusiasm through “The Promise.”
Pray today, “Father, give me grace to know the Truth; and grace to hold on to it – in Jesus’ Name.”
1 Pet. 1:13, NIV, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
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