The Hope of Christ
(NIV) Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 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. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 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.
As we draw closer to Easter and to celebrating the hope we find in Jesus, I invite you to spend some time meditating on this scripture found in Romans. First read the scripture out loud if convenient. Then focus on some if the key words and their meaning:
- Justified: made righteous in the sight of God
- Faith: trust, belief
- Peace: tranquility
- Grace: the undeserved gift from God; unmerited favor
- Hope: trust; confident expectation
As a child I was taught that justified means “just as if I’d never sinned.” John Wesley described it as something God did for us that we could not do for ourselves. We are drawn to God through prevenient grace, or as he called it “preventing” grace. After we are justified, we begin the lifelong process of sanctification, which is really being perfected in God’s love.
Will there be suffering in this world? Without a doubt. But we must understand that suffering not only reveals who we are, but if we rely on God, then it will help mold us into who God wants us to be. For as Paul said “suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope.”
I am ending today’s devotional with a poem I wrote around fifteen years ago.
Speak Joy, Hope and Love
Out of the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaks. Our dreams and schemes, the
essence of what we believe is portrayed,
or sometimes betrayed, by our words.
If you lack joy, but want it, must have it,
speak joy and let the seeds of joy be
planted deep within your heart. Let
your heart speak joy.
If you lack hope, but want it, need it,
cannot live without it, speak hope and
let hope find a resting place within your
heart. Let your heart speak hope.
If you lack love, but know that without
it your heart will surely shrivel and
die, speak love, show love, be all about love. Let
your heart speak love.
Out of the mouth the abundance of the
heart speaks. Speak joy, speak hope,
speak love.
May we find hope through our faith in God, and the sacrifice of love made by Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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