Devotionals from my Bible app: Abounding in Hope (Romans 15:13)

Note before sharing the devotional: Regardless of the current season (this is an Advent devotional, but it's running now in the portion of the traditional church's calendar year called "Epiphany") it's always good to abound in hope. And this is not worldly hope, or hope based on certain circumstances related to this world. (I would know; as a Cubs fan, until 2016 when they finally broke the championship drought, I often heard the word "hope" and associated it with something that I wanted to happen but, based on past history, understood this happening to be in doubt, at best. Even now, as the team hasn't won any championships since 2016, there is doubt that they'll win again anytime soon.)

Bottom line, this is not that type of hope. God will move. God will provide. He has already made a way for your salvation. All you have to do is to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior, and as the Lord and King of your life. This is not hope dependent on if your favorite sports team wins a championship or not, or whether your preferred political candidate wins their election, and so on. God is in charge. He is in control. And if you're living for Him and trusting Him for your everything, then this is a hope where you can count on your needs being met, by Him. He may use other means vs. what you may expect. But He will come through. Therefore, let us abound in this hope as per the devotional below.

Abounding in Hope

The good news of Jesus Christ is for all people and nations. This truth is something that Paul continuously reiterated in his letter to the Roman Christians. Paul wanted to make sure they knew that anyone who believes in Jesus Christ has been given access to God through Jesus Christ.

And so, as Paul neared the end of his letter, he encourages the Romans with this prayer: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13 ESV)

What a wonderful promise! God is doing the work of filling us with joy and peace, and as that happens, by His Holy Spirit, we will abound more and more in hope.

Hope for what? Hope in what?

In Romans 5:1-5, Paul describes how those who believe in Jesus are now at peace with God…

“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. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 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.” (ESV)

Because of our faith in God, we hope in God’s glory, and we hope in God’s love.

So right now, consider how God’s love might fill your heart with hope. In what ways can you hope in God during this Advent season?

https://bible.com/bible/59/rom.15.13.ESV