Coffee Cup Confessions: Finding Hope Not Hype in Famous Bible VersesSample

Excruciating Exclamation

I wanted to show you through some of the most popular Bible verses of all time and the most well-known stories of the Bible that these words were not penned for us to cling to in the good times when everything is working but rather to give us hope in the difficult times. In times of uncertainty. Even in times of great adversity.

All of the examples in this Bible plan were penned by a writer or character going through adversity not because they had done something wrong but because they had done something right. I want to be clear. Sometimes we bring trouble onto ourselves because of bad choices and decisions. But it's also very possible, and actually biblical, to see that there are times when we are following the exact will of God that He has for us, and we still find ourselves in great adversity.

• Joseph's problem proclamation came because he practiced what he preached.
• Moses's stuck statement came after he actually stuck to God's crazy advice.
• David's valley vocabulary was penned because he alone had the valor to stand up to this giant.
• Jeremiah's weeping words were written because he walked with God his entire life.

It is a lie to say that following after God is safe, easy, or predictable. On the contrary, following after God will frequently lead us to great danger and into great adversity.

But what is also true is that we have hope for whatever happens in this world.

• For as many problems as Joseph experienced, Jesus took upon His shoulders all the problems of this world.
• For as stuck as Moses was, Jesus was once stuck to a cross with nails driven through His hands and feet.
• For as low as David was facing Goliath, they buried Jesus's dead, lifeless body underground, and He descended into hell.
• For as lonely as Jeremiah was, there was only one time when someone has ever indeed been alone, and it was when Jesus willingly died for us.

And in the middle of all this, while Jesus was hanging on the cross, Jesus changed the world with just one word. Just one word. It was Jesus's Excruciating Exclamation.

Excruciating. Did you know this word didn't exist but was invented by the Romans to describe the torture and suffering experienced from a crucifixion? It's a Latin word...ex meaning out of, and crux meaning the cross. Out of the cross. Jesus changed everything with one excruciating word. What was that word?

Jesus said, Tetelestai, which means: "It is finished."

Sin, death, and the devil are all done. With. One. Word. He. Changed. Everything.

Through Jesus's finished work on the cross, all of these Bible verses that we plaster on coffee cups turn from hype into hope. If it stays on the cup, it'll remain hype, but if it gets off the coffee mug into your mind, into your heart, it'll give you hope for whatever comes at you in this world. His finished work on the cross changes everything!

These aren't just fickle faith statements and words that have no meaning. Instead, these words have meaning because Jesus Christ's finished work ensures that all who believe in Him will win in the end.

That's not hype. That's true hope.

If you liked this devotion, head over to https://redletterchallenge.com/youversion-bible-plans/ where you can find more YouVersion Bible Plans written to challenge you to be a greater follower of Jesus.