Romans 5:1-5 - Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Meditation:
What is hope? And what do you feel when you are hopeful? The Apostle Paul asks that we are not ashamed for our hopeful thoughts and feelings. Hebrews 6:11-"We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized."
What is the basis for our hope? We have answers that we can believe in. 2 Thessalonians 2:16 – “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”
Colossians 1: 22-23 But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
1 Peter 1:3 – Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade.
All Christians have reasons to be hopeful: we have been given the gift of salvation from our Lord Jesus Christ. Maybe we feel that we don't deserve this, and we should not be hopeful because of our sinful ways. This is true, we don't deserve it. However, we have been given it, and with this gift God also asks that we remain steadfastly faithful, filled with hope. The Scriptures and the life of Christ act as encouragement so that we might have hope
Romans 15:4 - For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
We owe it to God, to rejoice in His glory, to celebrate the life of Jesus, and to remember that we are surrounded by the Holy Spirit. What is the opposite of being hopeful? Think about that for a minute… Do you want your life to NOT be filled with hope?
Do you want it to be filled with doubt and despair? Of course not, and neither does God. A hopeful life is a happy one. Paul knows this and asks us to rejoice in the name of the Lord. We must rejoice, lift our hearts, minds, and voices, rejoicing in his name. A hope that we can believe in!
Prayer:
Our Heaven in Father; thank you, for your Grace and Hope in your word, help us to increase our Faith and Hope in the middle of the suffering, grief, tribulation, and to help, others. In Jesus’ name we pray your will be done. Amen!
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