11/05/12 DON'T UNDERESTIMATE HOPE AND FAITH
IT enables us to see through and beyond the evil to the purpose, power and promises of God.
Faith does not reach for the imaginary or unreal,
IT secures the unseeable and the unrealized.
Though some people mistakenly associate Hope and Faith with POLLYANNA (naivety),
THEY are actually associated with HOSANNA (trust and praise of God). (see Mt. 21:15-16).
I believe some people never see their hope and faith come to full fruition because they fear looking like a Pollyanna.
It is true that people of faith are misunderstood and maligned by the world, but God honors those who put full confidence in Him, and are willing to become "fools" (1 Co. 3:18) and spectacles (1 Co. 4:9) for Him.
PASSAGES
Matthew 21:15-16
(15) And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased,
(16) And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?
1 Corinthians 3:18
(18) Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
1 Corinthians 4:9
(9) For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.
