Prepared To Answer
God does great and mighty things and makes bold promises that each of us would be prepared to share the reason why we have hope.
“A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines. The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.”
Judges 13:2-6, 8, 13-20, 24-25
We pick the story of an unnamed women with unfulfilled dreams. We do know the name of her husband and that she was a member of the family of God through the Danite clan. So, she was a child of the promise. One of those promises God gave His people was the promise of Abraham to make his descendants as numerous as the stars. How do you think she felt as a person who was given the promise of hope, but who had not yet seen God move on her behalf. Add in to the story that Israel was a mess. The people had once again gone astray and they had lost battle after battle during their rebellion. She was a women with lost hope playing for a losing team with little left to lose. Can you relate? Have you ever felt like giving up on a dream or letting go of the pain of waiting for an unfulfilled promise? Do you ever feel like you just can't win in an area of your life?
Scripture tells us that our suffering is not unseen and we are never alone. Our natural instinct is to feel like the answers to our prayers feel farther away when in reality we are often one day closer to seeing the power of God move. God sends an angel to meet the woman where she is and he gives her hope. Can you imagine an angel showing up on your door and speaking directly to your deepest desire and meeting your heart's greatest longing? This is exactly what happens in this story. This is the story of the mother of Samson and it many ways it is our story. We are people who often spend more time waiting and wondering than witnessing the miraculous. Part of the importance of reading God's word is that it reminds us to look up to the heavens with expectation and look beyond our current circumstances.
Where the woman saw barren, God saw a baby bottle. Where the woman saw broken dreams, God saw a beautiful mother who would faithfully follow His commands. Where the woman felt alone and unseen, God saw beloved daughter and sent an angel to meet her where she was. How could this story reshape how we are looking at who we are, where we are, and what plans God has in store for us? How could this story give us a stronger hold of hope?
“Remember the nation you purchased long ago, the people of your inheritance, whom you redeemed Mount Zion, where you dwelt. How long will the enemy mock you, God? Will the foe revile your name forever? Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? God is my King from long ago; he brings salvation on the earth. It was you who split open the sea by your power; you broke the heads of the monster in the waters. The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter."
Psalms 74:2, 10-13, 16-17, 21-22
David was a man after God's own heart. He loved to sing and praise God. The psalmist brings forth a song of worship but it is not when you might expect. This is a song that was written in the waiting. It is a song that was written while he was still wondering what would happen. He is calling on God to remember his people and his promises because he is not seeing how his prayers will be answered. How do you respond when you do not see a way forward and you are tired of waiting?
He sings of God's faithfulness and plan to bring salvation to all the earth. He does not give in to all the false ideas from the enemy that try to undercut our faith. Rather, he stands on the truth of God's word that can never be broken. He sings of all the ways God has moved on his behalf and throughout the history of the people of Israel believing that God who did it before will do it again. What act of faithfulness from your past can help you have confidence about your future?
“Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. The righteous lead blameless lives; blessed are their children after them. Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin”? A person’s steps are directed by the Lord. How then can anyone understand their own way? The human spirit is the lamp of the Lord that sheds light on one’s inmost being. Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.”
Proverbs 20:1, 7, 9, 24, 27-28
When you look around the world, why do you think that bars are full on Friday nights? When people are finally done with all their hard work, why do so many people go off to drink the night away. This is not a message against alcohol or a judgment of consuming adult beverages. There are deeper questions to consider. Alcohol can help ease the pain or lighten the mood. It can add to an experience, but Solomon warns against win and beer as an outlet when what someone really needs is more hope in their life.
What is he saying that win and beer can do? Solomon is saying that these enhance the desires of your flesh not the desires of the spirit. Wisdom teaches us that we would be better off fanning the flame of our faith that God is with us, within us, and working for us that drowning our sorrows in a double shot of something. Wisdom tells us we will not leave perfect lives, but we can live blamelessly. We can be open and honest about where we are and seek God through all the seasons of our life. God's love and faithfulness will guide us when we open our ears to hear His voice and place our trust in Him.
“The Lord will restore the splendor of Jacob like the splendor of Israel, though destroyers have laid them waste and have ruined their vines. The shields of the soldiers are red; the warriors are clad in scarlet. The metal on the chariots flashes on the day they are made ready; the spears of juniper are brandished. Nineveh summons her picked troops, yet they stumble on their way. Hearts melt, knees give way, bodies tremble, every face grows pale."
Nahum 2:2-3, 5-6, 8-11, 13
God is a God who restores. One of the most important ways He restores us is by restoring our hope. It is hope that gets us out of bed and hope that helps us make it through each day. When Nahum gives the promise to the people that God will restore the splendor of the people, he is speaking to people who have been exiled, under control by others, and are experiencing the opposite of hope filled times.
In many ways the message of Nahum, is the same message as the angel gave to the unnamed mother of Samson. He says the best is yet to come. God will move on your behalf. Do not be afraid or believe that what you see is where you will stay. God has a plan for you. He has a plan for a hope and future and your good fortunes will be restored. God's word comes alive as we see the connections in scripture and realize that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. God's promises will never fail and your hopes will come to pass. The bible says as a person believes in their heart so it is. We will be happier and shine brighter if we choose to believe in the power of God to move in our lives. Where do you need to declare restoration over your life, over a relationship, or over a dream?
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God."
1 Peter 3:8-18
Peter tells us what not to do and what to do as we deal with the world around us. Do you notice how he is telling us how we can proactively reflect Christ then adds to it the context that we should do this in all circumstances? It is easy to be like minded, sympathetic, loving, compassionate, and humble when you are around people who are treating you similarly. In many ways it is easy to love like Christ if the people we encounter love us like Christ. But, Jesus asks what credit is it to you to be generous to people who will pay you back?
The greater challenge is to love your enemies and do good to those who do evil to you. Peter say repay evil with blessing, doing so with gentleness, respect, and good behavior. It has been said that you might be the only bible that other people ever read. What do people learn about Jesus in how you are reacting to the offenses of the world around you? Are you shining the light of Christ or filled with the fires of unforgiveness?
Peter says that hope makes all the difference in how you respond in hard situations and what he says is so true. If you think about why we react in an un-Christlike way, is it not fear that is driving our emotions or our thinking? Hope says I do not have to be afraid for My God is greater than anything I face and He is a Promise Keeper. Hope says I trust in God because I have seen His grace, mercy, power, and felt His presence in my life. Why do you have to be prepared to have a reason to share for the hope you have? Because you are going to need it when the winds of offense and the wildfires of fear come near your door. Hope is so much more than a grand wish. Hope is knowing you are held in the arms of your Creator, made right by your Savior, and holding on to the promised inheritance of the Spirit within you that has the power overcome all things including death.
The world is full of questions. Are you prepared to share your answer for why you have hope? You should be because the same God who gives children to barren wombs is going to do something beyond anything you can ask or imagine as you believe. You have a hope and His name is Jesus. Tell people about Him.