GOD OF HOPE

Daily Stop & Thinks

Stop & Think: April 21, 2025

Resurrection Hope

Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand. (Ira F. Stanphill, gospel music songwriter)

What an encouraging reminder when life becomes difficult and it’s hard to hold much hope for the future. The song’s lyric includes this line of frustration, “And who knows what tomorrow may hold?”  Today of all days, having just celebrated Easter, the wonderful truth of the resurrection is the certain promise of eternal life for the Christian.

We wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:13)

Stop & Think: April 20, 2025

Easter

I remember it is Easter morn, / And life and love and peace are all newborn, / And joy has triumphed over loss and pain.” (Alice Freeman Palmer, “On a Gloomy Easter”)

No matter the weather, the economic report, or life’s circumstances, understanding Easter should brighten our day and enable us to see beyond today. The resurrection of Jesus is the proof positive that his life and death were accepted by Father God as full coverage for the sin of those who confess it and recognize Jesus as Lord. (Romans 10:9).

He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. (Matthew 18:6)

Stop & Think: April 19, 2025

Lies vs. Truth

Man’s mind is so formed that it is far more susceptible to falsehood than to truth. (Desiderius Erasmus, 16th century Dutch theologian)

Jewish leaders cooked up a story to explain the disappearance of Jesus’ body, and that lie was circulated and believed. It was easier to believe the lie. The Scriptures tell us that even his disciples did not believe the report of his resurrection immediately. People are still believing lies today. Be sure to determine the truth, especially when it comes to your eternal destiny.

He (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God. (Romans 4:20)

Stop & Think: April 18, 2025

Good Friday

It’s Friday. The earth trembles. The sky grows dark. My king yields his spirit. But it’s only Friday. And Sunday is coming. (S. M. Lockridge, late Baptist pastor.)

Christians around the world are commemorating the day when Jesus died on Calvary’s cross. 19th century clergyman Phillips Brooks explains its significance, “We may say that on the first Good Friday afternoon was completed that great act by which light conquered darkness and goodness conquered sin. That is the wonder of our Savior’s crucifixion.”

God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Stop & Think: April 17, 2025

Learning from Life

Failure is life’s greatest teacher . . . (Ajayi Jones, author and speaker)

That idea may be difficult to swallow when you’ve just failed in some area of your life. But Jones continues: “. . . and the only way we truly fail is to learn nothing from the valleys we experience.” This idea may also be hard to appreciate, but given a little time, you may very well discover it’s truth. Don’t just fail; learn from it and move on.

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. (Proverbs 24:16)

Stop & Think: April 16, 2025

Excellence

Don’t expect perfection. Rather, make it your goal to achieve excellence. (Jesse Deloe, writer)

Parents want their children to behave perfectly, especially in the company of others. Teachers look for perfection in their students’ use of proper grammar. The general populace wishes for political leaders who will make perfect laws and regulations. If that’s what we’re looking for, we will always be disappointed. Let’s encourage one another simply to strive for excellence.

Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence . . . (2 Peter 1:5)

Stop & Think: April 15, 2025

Devotion to God

Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy. (Pope Francis)

Christians who observe the 40 days of Lent before Easter usually give up something, practicing fasting, for example, as a token of devotion and sacrifice. It suggests a more introspective consideration of one’s relationship with God, and as one pastor put it, “We need God more than we need to be busy for God.” It’s a good time to prayerfully review your closeness to God.

My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. (Psalm 42:2)

Stop & Think: April 14, 2025

Burdens

It’s not the load that breaks you down; it’s the way you carry it. (Lena Horne, singer and actress)

Look around you. Do you see people whose posture or facial expression make you think they must be carrying a heavy load? We have such times whether because of health, financial woes, or a dozen other possible factors. Learning how to cope with such struggles is an important step toward lightening the load. Another is to find help; let someone share the load with you.

Jesus: “Take my yoke upon you. . . , and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29-30).
Share each other’s troubles and problems, and so obey our Lord’s command (Galatians 6:2).

Stop & Think: April 13, 2025

Debate

Winning hearts is a lot more important than winning arguments. (Chris Tiegreen, devotional writer)

Organized debate was once a helpful means of achieving understanding. It allowed equal but limited time for debaters on both sides. Discussions were open and fair with careful listeners. Today, talking is too often interrupted with constant objections and little attention to logic or fairness. A civil exchange of ideas will more likely speak to the heart and result in better understanding.

Do everything without complaining and arguing (Philippians 2:14).

Stop & Think: April 12, 2025

Vengeance/Forgiveness

Vengeance is having a videotape planted in your soul that cannot be turned off. (Lewis B. Smedes, late theology professor and author)

It’s human nature to want to get back at someone who has hurt us. Sadly, we often don’t only want to get even, we want to do even greater harm. As Smedes notes, however, the revenge-seeker is really the long-time sufferer. But, as the late South African writer, Alan Paton, reminds us, “When a deep injury is done us, we never recover until we forgive.”

Forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others (Colossians 3:13).

Stop & Think: April 11, 2025

Moving Forward

I am willing to go anywhere, as long as it is forward. (David Livingston,19th century medical missionary)

He may have seemed to be fearless, but Livingston prayed, “God, send me anywhere, only go with me.” Known as an intrepid explorer and preacher, Livingston had his heart set on taking the gospel to the darkest places in Africa. What an example for us and a challenge to use our God-given abilities to advance his message of grace.

To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Stop & Think: April 10, 2025

Truth

The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them. (Ida B. Wells, journalist and sociologist)

We are well aware of wrongs that happen all around us. Whether it’s being mistreated by your employer, experiencing a bad deal in a business exchange, or the evil happening around the world, we long to set the wrongs right. Society tries many ways to bring about correction. Wells is definitely right. Truth is the best way to take a wrong and make it right.

So I am writing to you because . . .  you know the difference between truth and lies (1 John 2:21).
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free (John 8:32).