September 10 - I Still Dare to Hope!

 Read today’s texts first: Lamentations 3-5; Revelation 15

MAXIMize YOUR DAY

Worship isn’t about feeding God’s pride
(He doesn’t have any); it’s about losing ours! 

In the middle of a seemingly hopeless lament is this hope-filled song of praise. This is why we worship. God doesn’t need His ego stroked. We worship Him to remind ourselves of Who He is and why we need Him. It’s not about feeding God’s pride (He doesn’t have any); it’s about losing ours!

Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The unfailing love of the Lord never ends!  By his mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each day. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”  The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek him. (3:21-25)

I sang this portion of Scripture in the early 70’s, when psalters were popular. When you combine music, which is the language of the soul, with God’s Word, hope becomes readily recognizable and accessible, even in the darkest night.

Fast forward to our reading in Revelation and you gain a glimpse into the future of the remnant who survived the toughest battle in history standing by the glassy sea singing the song of Moses: 

Great and marvelous are your actions, Lord God Almighty.  Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations.  Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?  For you alone are holy.  All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed. (15:3-4) 

“Lord, You said You will never leave us, even when we mess up.  Thank You that we can always dare to hope!”