Reflections for October 2024

Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged.  Hebrews 6:17 – 18

 As we head into the Thanksgiving weekend, many of you will be anticipating the great meal that will be “set before” you, even if you are the hands that have helped to prepare it.  There is a wonderful joy and anticipation of digging into the delicious celebrative feast commemorating all of God’s abundant goodness toward us.  God is not stingy in the provisions of His creation. Our ability to share those provisions is another story, but by this shared meal we give thanks to God that there is enough for all. 

There are a few references in Scripture to what God has set before us for which we should also view with great anticipation.  He has set before us a table in the presence of our enemies, (Psalm 23) providing all that we will need to face any trials ahead.  He has set before us a race to run (Hebrews 12) – in essence setting out a purpose for our lives that will be won if we “fix out eyes on Jesus”. The verse goes on to say that Jesus “for the joy set before him, endured the cross”. It is hard to understand that the cross was the path to joy and that joy was set before Jesus through such suffering.  Yet it is pure joy for Jesus to see anyone reconciled back into the arms of God because of his faithfulness in carrying out God’s purpose. 

God has set before us a hope, so that we may be greatly encouraged as we work our way through the life that we have been given – the race we are to complete.  I love that phrase “it is impossible for God to lie”.  That should also give us great comfort and hope in carrying out the journey of our lives with endurance because of the “joy” that will be set before us when we cross the finish line.  

I do find great comfort in these words, just like the thanksgiving banquet, that there is much to delight in and anticipate in all that God has set before us.  It is so easy to be distracted by the gloom and doom negativity in our world.  There are many frightening things going on with wars and floods, fires and hurricanes and it is so easy to feel helpless in the face of it all.  Much of what is “set before us” feels out of our control with few choices in its outcome.  But we must together believe in the “hope set before us” because we are not on some random journey with no known outcome.  We are on a path our good good Father has set out before us and at the end of the journey, there will be unspeakable joy, especially as we fix our eyes on Jesus.  

Hebrews 6 speaks of “the unchanging nature of God’s purpose” and it is in that purpose I must believe and to which I shall commit.  Continuing to verse 19 which reads in the NLT “This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls”. Awesome! So enjoy your thanksgiving meal set before you this weekend and may it remind you of the hope that God has set before you and in the words of Chris Tomlinson, “All God’s promises are ‘yes’ and ‘amen’”!

By grace alone, 

Faye Reynolds