by Cathy Vinson

One wonders when we consider the complexity of our own human problems, and how many questions arise from these, and yet see little detailed description of them in Scripture. Problems have always been complex. Did the earlier Church know something perhaps we do not.

When Paul encourages a church so they would not grieve "even as others who have no hope" (1 Th 4:13), do we? Are we grieving over problems just as the world? Or are we truly holding in hand a Hope. This kind of Hope does not find a necessary overfocus on the problem. "Have" (echo) means to hold in hand or to hold fast. "Hope" (elpis) means favorable and confident expectation.

JB Phillips writes: "The Holy Spirit has a way of short-circuiting human problems. Indeed, in exactly the same way as Jesus Christ in the flesh cut right through the matted layers of tradition and exposed the real issue:...so we find here [in Acts] the Spirit of Jesus dealing not so much with problems as with people. Many problems comparable to modern complexities never arise here because the men and women concerned were of one heart and mind in the Spirit...Since God's Holy Spirit cannot conceivably have changed one iota through the centuries;...He is perfectly
prepared to short circuit, by an inflow of love, wisdom and understanding, many human problems today."

An oversimplification? One would need only look where such simplicity has been tried and proven effective.

Peter said, "Silver and gold have I none, but what I HAVE (to hold fast in hand) I give to you, in the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth..." (Acts 3:6). Does it help us to know WE HAVE the Name that is above every Name, we have it in hand?

This is a wondrous lesson to me one who loves questions and analyzations. But where is there an end to such? May the Name short circuit that which carries no power. "And His Name, through and by faith in His Name, has made this man whom you see and recognize well and strong. The faith which is through and by Him has given the man this perfect soundness before all of you" (Acts 3:16).

(Jn 16:21-24)