Hope For All – The Presidential Prayer Team

In his name the Gentiles will hope. – Matthew 12:21

When a person’s reputation precedes them, it could be a good thing or it might mean trouble is ahead. When it was time for Israel to possess the Promised Land after forty years of wandering, Joshua sent spies to check out the land; they came back encouraged. The people they were to conquer were already disheartened because they knew Israel’s God was powerful; His reputation – news of His works in Egypt and at the Red Sea – had preceded Him.

Christ’s reputation preceded Him in every town in Israel, as well. He was healing the sick and demon-possessed, and the people gathered by the thousands to see and hear Him. The Pharisees also heard of Him and sought to destroy Him (Matthew 12:14). His name struck joy in the hearts of some and disdain or anger in the minds of others.

He had come as the Messiah for His own people, the Israelites, but God’s message from the beginning included more than the Jewish people. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). From the Pharisee Nicodemus to the Roman centurion to the Ethiopian eunuch, from the beginning to the present day, not only for the Jews but “in his name the Gentiles will hope” (Matthew 12:21).

Rejoice! Hope from God is for all! “There is no distinction between Jew and Greek…For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:11-13). Lift up your prayers for those in this nation who have not accepted Jesus as Savior, that they may know Him and the hope He gives.

Today’s Verse: Matthew 12:21

    and in his name the Gentiles will hope.

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Romans 9:30-32, 10:9-13

³⁰What shall we say, then? That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, a righteousness that is by faith; ³¹but that Israel who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness did not succeed in reaching that law. ³²Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the stumbling stone,

⁹because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. ¹¹For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” ¹²For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. ¹³For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”