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Discuss the SoulCare concept that Christianity is not about a better life; it is about a better hope.
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We cannot strive to earn blessings or improve our lives through sheer effort alone. Efforts will leave us empty and foolish. Jesus came to offer us a life of abundance, and it is through hope and belief in something greater, beyond our earthly existence, that we can truly experience it.
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In sharing from Heb 7:19, Dr Larry Crab highlight the fact that scriptures never promise a better life but a better hope. That better hope involves a growing personal relationship with God, knowing Him and His promises and experiencing a joy that is beyond the circumstances in this life. As such, as people who desire to do SoulCare, we must understand that God may not may not bless the mess in our earthly life, because that is not His ultimate purpose. Instead our goal is to stir or fire up that desire for God that is lying beneath all the mess and bring it to the forefront – and bring about the ultimate satisfaction that is found in Christ alone.
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Chrisitianity is about a better hope, not a better life. Jesus is our great high priest who sympathizes with our weakness and was tempted in every way but never sinned. We can approach the throne room and find a new way to live; a way that releases the Spirit in us. As corrupt sinners from birth ( iniquity in my mother’s womb) we are all on a quest to find satisfaction without Christ because we are image bearers and worship is our ultimate goal. Without the dependent hunger and thirst for God alone, we will find replacements, idols, that we think will satisfy this need, but it never does. So, we continue to search after the ” better life.” This may include the idol of comfort and ease- desiring to live a conflict free life with others, lust of the eyes- pornography and adultery, or making a good desire into a bad demand- health at any cost. As soul carers, we must be completely dependent on the supernatural Spirit of God to be released in us to move into the person’s soul and make a difference which is for them to have the sole appetite for God alone.
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The better hope is that no matter what is happening in our lives, we can draw near to God and experience Him drawing close to us. That is something far sweeter than any life circumstance or material blessing can give, because it’s what our Creator designed us for…to experience our greatest appetite is for knowing Christ, and that He Himself is a fountain of living water and the bread of life, beyond satisfying.
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If we focus on having a “better life” a than we are no different than the world. When our mindset, focus, and energy is spent on our life on earth, we will be disappointed over and over. With our eyes fixed in Christ and with the mindset of Heaven being our true home, we have a Hope that is steadfast and unchanging. It is a Hope that is dependable and True. The only thing with can Hope for with full faith and assurance.