Devotions

DEVOTION BY MARK FUGATE 

Keep Hope Alive

In the Greenville South Carolina newspaper  - this appeared as a headline. “MAYBE HE CAN TAKE IT WITH HIM!”  It was a letter that went to a dead man from the Greenville Social Services Dept.  The letter said and I quote……

  • “Your social benefits will stop effective March 1992 because we received notice that you passed away. May God bless you.   S. You may reapply if there is a change in your circumstances.”

I saw a Charlie Brown clip where Lucy and Linus were sitting in front of the television set when Lucy said to Linus.  “Go get me a glass of water.”  Linus looked surprised and said, “why should I do anything for you Lucy, you never do anything for me”.  Lucy said “Okay on your 75th birthday I’ll bake you a cake.  Linus gets up, heads to the kitchen for her water and says – “life is more pleasant when you have something to look forward to.” 

Well we have something to look forward to don’t we Church?  All of our hope for the future has it’s promise in the undeniable – unshakable truth that Jesus rose from the dead.  We are all natural hopers.  Even people who don’t know Jesus.  People wish on four leaf clovers – talk about jeannies coming out of lamps – pull wishbones apart – make a wish before we blow out candles on a birthday cake.  Again, we are natural hopers.  But let me tell you today. There is Hoping for Something, and there is Hoping in Someone! When you’re hoping for something you are hoping for a specific outcome.  I hope I get the job – I hope I get the house – I hope it’s not cancer – I hope they come back.  But here’s the thing – everything on earth we hope for will eventually disappoint us.  So as we prepare for Easter Sunday – let me ask you this question.

  • When you’ve lost the Something you were hoping for, have you met the Someone you can put your hope in?

We don’t need one more thing to put our hope in.  We need to put our hope in someone, and that someone is Jesus.  And because He’s alive, Hope is alive.

Marks Sig