Christian Hope

-


Scripture: Romans 5:1-5 (ESV)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Devotion:

            Today, let us look at the Christian virtue called hope. Now there are many varieties of hope running loose in the world today. Around Christmas time all the little boys and girls are full of hope that Santa Clause will bring them what they have their little hearts set on. Adults engage in this type of wishful thinking as well. Adults hope for a promotion at their job, a return to the good health of their youth, etc. These are worldly hopes and while it is not wrong to hope in this manner. God has a far greater hope in mind for Christians.

            The world’s hope is rooted in nothing more than dreaming. The gospel hope is rooted in a real person Jesus Christ. Worldly hope encourages engaging in actions designed to make the object of that hope appear. Christian hope encourages us to pray with a vision toward what does not (yet) exist. While worldly hope holds out the hope of no suffering. The Christian version practically guarantees it. However, suffering is redeemed in the end producing the fruit of the Spirit in the Christian.

            As Paul says here in Romans “hope does not put us to shame.” Now the world hopes for constant good health and are disappointed when some illness strikes them. Christians on the other hand know that eventually illness will arrive on their doorstep. However, the Christian response due to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is one of endurance. For we know that God will either heal us or take us home to be with him in heaven. Either way we win.

            The writers of the New Testament emphasized to us that we should be hopeful in all circumstances. Even when we suffer terribly, we do not minimize the suffering. We, however, can see beyond the pain and suffering to the great blessing we have awaiting us in heaven. While we will all endure suffering in this life living for Jesus will provide a constant source of hope.

Prayer:

            Lord God Almighty, we come before your throne humbly to ask for the grace of hope you wish to shower upon us. Lord when the days look darkest there is always hope in you, The eternal life you promised us has already in fact arrived. We are living in the day of salvation. Lift our vision to you dear Christ. Focus us on the provision you have made for us in this life and the next. That we can always rejoice knowing that you have taken care of us. Amen.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Welcoming the Unwelcome

-
  Scripture: Luke 7:36-38 (NIV) 36  When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37  A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38  As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. Devotion:             First of all, some warnings to my readers. This post will exceed the 500 words I try to limit my posts. Second, this post will contain content people may find offensive or otherwise unfit for print. Please understand that my purpose is neither to offend nor upset but to provoke thought and, hopefully, respectful dialog.             We will use Luke chapter seven as an aid to interpreting the events that occurred last Thursday at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. On that da
Read more

Father Forgive Them

-
  Scripture: Luke 23:33-34 (ESV) 33  And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Devotion:             The situation Jesus finds himself in here in today’s scripture is difficult for us to even imagine. A sham trial, no credible accusations of any kind, let alone any deserving of death, and yet here he is. A brilliant Rabbi, a teacher of the people who never led even one person astray from God’s will. This Holy One of God soon to be food for vultures.             This man who had done nothing wrong had no one in all the crowds who would speak up in his defense lest they be next to face the cross. An innocent man hung between two scoundrels. No voice from heaven declaring that this was the man that they were killing was actually the true Son of God. (See Matthew 3:17, Matthew 17:5, John 12:28) No the heaven
Read more

Transgenderism letter

-
  This is a copy of my letter to my senators, representative, and President Biden. January 15, 2024 Dear President Biden, Senators T. Duckworth, R. Durbin, and Representative D. LaHood             I am writing to you because I am concerned about the situation affecting our children and grandchildren, namely transitioning them from one gender to another. This nation must adjust course concerning these “interventions” because they are dangerous, irreversible, and life-changing. Our country should not be permitting these procedures on minor children under any circumstances. We must also make sure that adults who seek this care are given informed consent as to the risks versus benefits of sex reassignment treatments.             There are many drawbacks to gender-affirming care for minors. Besides the loss of any ability to give or receive sexual pleasure and sterility these treatments cause, there are social and psychological effects that we have no way of identifying because these
Read more