DADS,

With the many things we often place our “HOPE" in, there is always a winner and loser.

HOPE in friends, jobs, sports teams, parents, things. All temporary. All disappoint.

Even placing all our HOPE in those that love us will at some point fall short and NOT be enough.

There is a huge difference between being HOPEFUL vs HOPE-FILLED.

HOPEFUL = Something we wish for

HOPE-Filled = Something we already have. 

HOPE-Filled never leaves us. Never runs out. HOPE in Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:13 (NIV)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

THE 1ST STEP IS...“Humility”

James 4:10 (NIV)

10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

When we humble ourselves DADS, we will see clearly our purpose in Christ.

In our purpose we feel become hope-“filled".

I just returned from the Dominican Republic (DR), even in the midst of much poverty I saw hope. It was so evident in their outward humility not just because of circumstances, but through their circumstances and struggles many have found Christ.

Becoming a Christian doesn’t always change your circumstances but it can change how you see it and live it out.

What I found in abundance in the DR was this humility of the people. None had much to give but what they had, they wanted to share or even give away.

DADS, we cannot let go sometimes, instead we say, "I got this.”

Truth.

We can do it.

BUT you cannot do it alone for long. No one is an island.

When we do realize we need others we often go a place where we put our hope in others and into things. When this happens we have “misplaced" our hope.

So whats the answer?

Humility

That we do need God’s people and we need Christ!

Giving Him our pain, passion and purpose. Humility that we need Christ is the first step to achieving real hope.

How do we PRACTICE our humility? Many ways. Here are three ways to work on today:

1) Take wrong patiently (1 Peter 3:8-17). When something is unjust we want to react and rectify it. However, patiently responding to the unjust accusations and actions of others demonstrates our strength of godly character and provides an opportunity to put on humility.

13 Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14 But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.” 15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 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,

2) Actively submit to authority, the good and the bad (1 Peter 2:18). Our culture does not value submission; rather it promotes individualism. How purposely and actively do you work on submission to those whom God has placed as authorities in your life? Doing so is a good way to humble yourself.

3) Be quick to forgive (Matthew 18: 21-35). Forgiveness is possibly one of the greatest acts of humility we can do. To forgive is to acknowledge a wrong that has been done to us and also to further release our right of repayment for the wrong. Forgiveness is denial of self. Forgiveness is not insisting on our way and our justice.

DADS, start TODAY!

Be PATIENT!

SUBMIT!

FORGIVE!

HOPE IS ETERNAL.

HUMILITY is the 1st STEP!

Suiting up!

Jeff