Scripture – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 NIV
Observation – The context of this passage is that one day both Jews and Gentiles will praise God together, as one community reconciled to God. As you look at the world, countries, states, cities, neighborhoods, friends, extended families, households, husbands and wives and even a person’s relationship with themselves you will find turmoil, wars, gossip, disappointment, deceit, malice and unmet expectations. It amazing to me that people wonder why one country can’t live at peace with another country when half the marriages in America end in divorce. How in the world are millions of people who don’t know each other going to love and care for millions of other people they don’t know when two people who promised one another, in front of their family and friends and, often times God, can’t love each other.
Application – The God of hope can fill a person, and a group of people, with joy and peace as they trust in him. He promises that our hope will even overflow by the power of the Holy Spirit. The power of the Holy Spirit is the key that unlocks this type of hope that leads to joy and peace. God calls us as believers to live by faith not by sight. We know, in spite of how things look today (in the world and in the lives of people we know) that God can fix it. That is what he does, he takes a wicked, selfish man with a messed up view of the world and gives him a new heart. This new man now walks out his front door each day with a desire to please God and love people as opposed to what he desired before God saved him. We’ve all seen it, it happened to us, and this is why we have hope. God can do this again and again and again. This is how the world will change, one heart at a time. Let’s all do our part!
Prayer – Dear Jesus, you are not a God that sits far off and scratches his head and wonders what to do next. You are powerful. Thank you for loving us and taking care of us and allowing us to play a part in your eternal plans for mankind. Amen.
What are you doing? Do it better 