Do you remember Aragorn’s famous quote in The Lord Of The Rings? “There is always hope!” Then there’s another quote by the great soccer player, Pele. “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice – and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” Hope and hard work are guideposts that keep you on a good path.

The first quote provides a picture of avoiding despair – when there is still hope. The second is a realistic picture of what hard work looks like.

Now – let’s tear into hope and hard work.

Tear Into It – Hope And Hard Work

There are always four categories we explore in Scripture Dissection:

1. What Does It Say?
2. What Does It Mean?
3. Make It Personal
4. Make A Commitment.

 

1. What Does It Say?

Neither hope nor hard work just happen! In fact, both – you intentionally engage. Interestingly, as soon as you engage them, they become your reality!

To explore Scripture about hope and hard work, let’s tear into this passage from Rom. 7:21-25.

1. “So, I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.”
2. “For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.”
3. “But I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.”
4. “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body . . . subject to death?”
5. “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

 

That’s what these verses say.

 

2. What Does It Mean?

These verses suggest inner conflict. Interestingly, this conflict is common to all people. Oddly, all this can be going on inside you simultaneously. So, the tricky part is to learn how to manage the conflict. Consequently, this management begins when you completely yield to God in faith and obedience. Still, what do you do with the conflict?

As you hope in God and work hard to manage conflicting “laws” at work in your life, you increasingly engage an Alive and Active Life. Frankly, there’s no better way to live.

So, now let’s look at each verse again and explore what they mean.

1. “So, I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me.” There are various laws at work in our daily lives. God’s creation is orderly, your life included. God wants your life to be manageable, as well as meaningful. So, He blesses you with capacity to respond to His eternal laws and ways. Unfortunately, sin introduces inner conflict. This battle influences your leanings and decisions.
2. “For in my inner being I delight in God’s law.” When you trust Jesus, your leanings and decisions begin to shift – permanently. It’s one of the marks of being His follower. You find yourself increasingly delighted in His ways and laws the more you get to know Him.
3. “But I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.” And there it is! That other law works in you. Although you are redeemed, forgiven, and being transformed – sin still tries to press into your daily life. Your mind is at war, tempting you with personal agenda and self-focus. If you yield to this other law, you become a prisoner. But – you don’t have to yield.
4. “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” This conflict feels hopeless and helpless. Even wretched! Nevertheless, there is hope. Plus, hard work. Incidentally, this hope and hard work are not subject to death.
5. “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Remarkably, Jesus is the source of your hope. Additionally, He strengthens you to engage hard work. Truly, Jesus is the key to an Alive and Active Life. Because of what Jesus accomplished through His life, death, and resurrection, you have the option to rise above – with hope and hard work!

 

That’s what these verses mean.

3. Make It Personal

Perhaps you’ve felt helpless to stop cycles of sin. You want to, but you keep failing. And now your existence is constant tension – wanting to do what is right, but constantly missing the mark. Desiring to do good, but doing bad instead. You feel miserable and frustrated as this tension mounts inside and time stacks up in years. “What a wretched person I am! Somebody help!” (Rom.7:24)

We are talking about a Jesus follower, not a non-Christian. This believer feels trapped. Imprisoned. If you are this person, God wants to help you live with hope and give you strength to work hard to change things.

Help For Hope And Hard Work

As you consider how to embrace hope and engage hard work, there are actions steps to help you succeed. Afterall, if you don’t pro-actively move forward to manage your life issues, you will not enjoy the promises of hope. Plus, you will not see the fruit of hard work.

Action Steps:

1. Pause

Slow down so you can think and pray. In this pause, you can better hear God’s voice to help you get off the merry-go-round of failure.

2. Listen

As you begin to hear Him, be attentive to God’s whispers. (1 Kings 19:12) God doesn’t yell. Be still with a teachable, willing heart. And listen.

3. Admit

Humble yourself, and be honest. Admit – “I am still allowing myself to be deceived to make wrong choices. Likely because of one of these –

• I think I still have the option to sin.
• My past habits and patterns are so hard to break.
• I continue to make excuses and exonerate myself.
• Besides, Jesus will forgive me, right?

 

Thinking like that means continued messing up. Sadly and truthfully – the bend of your old nature flows right into the wrong thing with no good reason at all!

4. Accept Truth

Be hard on yourself in the right way. In other words, hold yourself to truth. Next, spend a moment with these critical questions and ideas:

1. Do I love Jesus enough to carry out His wishes over my own? Is my goal to please Him?
2. When I trusted Jesus to forgive my sins, I was also asking Him to be Lord of my life.
3. Scripture teaches me – I’m created by God, for God, and belong to God. He is my Master.
4. Jesus broke sin’s power at the cross. My excuses to keep sinning are not valid. Here’s why: since my sinful nature died with Christ on the cross and I received Christ’s risen life (a kind-of trade), I must now consider myself dead to sin and re-train my mind to practice Christ’s character.
5. Further, I must ask Jesus to transform me as I renew my mind in truth and practice godliness. (Rom. 12:2)
6. I am resolved to not stop until this process becomes my regular practice.

 

5. Rest In Christ

Mt. 11:28 says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

The process described in the verses we’re exploring is burdensome. Frankly, it’s exhausting sometimes! Plus, repeating a cycle of failure leaves you weary – without hope.

So, after following steps 1 – 4 with resolve, next – rest in Christ. “Be still before the Lord. Wait patiently for Him.” (Ps. 37:7) God cares about your struggle against sin. He gives hope and strength for you to work hard.

Oswald Chambers says – “You cannot do what God does. And God won’t do what you can.”

So, to make all this personal – hope in God, and get busy with your hard work.

Discipleship

A word about discipleship. Although salvation is free to you – (it cost Christ His life) – discipleship is not free. It costs your life! Becoming like Jesus is your work. (Phil. 2:12c) You owe Jesus a debt of love. Subsequently, consider yourself dead to sin.

When you align every thought, attitude, word, and deed with Scripture, you change. God does His portion as you work hard.

Ask God to heal your heart and transform you. If you fail, confess it, ask forgiveness, and continue to work out your salvation. There is grace for that. However, there is no provision for perpetual, purposeful sin!

So, hope in God, and work hard to be like Christ.

4. Make A Commitment – Application Thoughts And Questions

1. Do you experience inner conflict while failing to please God?
2. Further, do you delight in God’s law?
3. How often do you pause in this battle to re-group?
4. In your pause, do you intently listen to God’s still small voice?
5. Do you admit when you’re wrong?
6. And do you accept Scripture’s teachings and follow them?
7. Finally, are you resting in Christ? (Notice these 5 action steps.)
8. Remember: “You cannot do what God does. And God won’t do what you can.” (O.Chambers)

 

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