RHAPSODY OF REALITIES
SATURDAY, MARCH 22ND
PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME
MIX HOPE WITH FAITH AND LOVE
For unto us was the gospel preached, as
well as unto them: but the word
preached did not profit them, not being
mixed with faith in them that heard it.
(Hebrews 4:2)
The Word of God ministers hope, faith
and love. Many times, when people hear
the Word, the first thing it gives them is
hope. However, hope is not enough.
Hope gives you the picture afar off;
pictures of possibilities; it shows you the
blessings that could result from acting on
God’s Word.
Faith, on the other hand, is the response
of your human spirit to that hope that
God’s Word has ministered to you. While
love is the way you act upon it; the way
you live by the Word that God has given
you. When the Word of God ministers
hope to you, you have a choice to mix it
with faith and love for it to produce the
results that God wants. If you don’t mix it
with faith, you’ll get a different result.
For example, in the Old Testament, Sarah,
Abraham’s wife, heard the Word, that she
was going to have a son for Abraham
(Genesis 17:16). But at that moment in
her life, she didn’t mix the Word with
faith. She tried to make God’s Word come
to pass her own way, by contriving to give
her maid, Hagar, to Abraham so she could
get a son through her. The Word brought
her hope, but God required her faith as
well. However, things didn’t quite work
out as she expected. Hagar did bear a son
for Abraham, Ishmael by name, but that
wasn’t the result God wanted. Sarah soon
became frustrated and upset by the
result she got (Genesis 21:9).
Don’t try to make God do things your own
way or try to “help” Him make His Word
come to pass. The Lord never fails or
disappoints. He however expects you to
mix His Word with faith and walk in love,
for faith works by love.
PRAYER
Dear Father, as I study your Word today,
my spirit is enlightened to know and walk
in the paths you’ve ordained for me. I
declare that the power, glory and realities
of your glorious Kingdom are unveiled to
me as I fellowship with the Spirit, and the
Word today, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
James 1:3(Amp)
Be assured and understand that the trial
and proving of your faith bring out
endurance and steadfastness and
patience.
1Corinthians 13:13(Amp)
And so faith, hope, love abide [faith--
conviction and belief respecting man’s
relation to God and divine things; hope--
joyful and confident expectation of eternal
salvation; love--true affection for God and
man, growing out of God’s love for and in
us], these three; but the greatest of
these is love.
Galatians 5:6(Amp)
For [if we are] in Christ Jesus, neither
circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for
anything, but only faith activated and
energized and expressed and working
through love.
DAILY SCRIPTURE READING
1 Year Bible Reading Plan
Luke 4:14-44
Deuteronomy 22-24
2 Year Bible Reading Plan
Romans 2:1-11
Psalm 90