Romans 15:13 - 13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Reflection: Can you remember a time in your life when you didn’t have hope? I don’t mean this season as a Colts (or insert your crappy team) fan …. I’m going for a deeper reflection here. If you are a believer, it’s likely hope was lacking the most in your life shortly before you accepted Christ. Realizing we are powerless against the power of sin (as a non-believer), and therefore hopeless, is what leads us to accept His truth that we need Him. You now have eternal hope, given by God through His Spirit. What comes along with hope? Joy and peace, without a doubt. Can you remember a time when you were truly joyful, but without hope at the same time? Impossible. Without hope, there is only despair. And it’s impossible to be filled with joy or peace when in total despair, as one is without Christ.
In contrast to despair, what does overflowing with hope look like? Do you think Paul is exaggerating with that? I think Paul was speaking from experience. His own personal overflowing of hope is shown as joy in his encouraging letters to so many new believers in the early church, led by the Spirit. Paul’s overflowing hope given by the Spirit allowed hope, joy, and peace to spill over to countless others, even to this day, through his testimony and letters of encouragement.
Bobby Cross
Prayer: God, thank You for the hope You’ve given me. Thank you for the joy that comes from my hope in You. Help me keep my eyes on you and what your Son has done for me as my source of joy. Help me to not allow the things of this world discourage me, for they are temporary. Let my hope be in Your promises. Fill me with so much hope that I overflow. Allow me to be an encouragement to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Reflection: Can you remember a time in your life when you didn’t have hope? I don’t mean this season as a Colts (or insert your crappy team) fan …. I’m going for a deeper reflection here. If you are a believer, it’s likely hope was lacking the most in your life shortly before you accepted Christ. Realizing we are powerless against the power of sin (as a non-believer), and therefore hopeless, is what leads us to accept His truth that we need Him. You now have eternal hope, given by God through His Spirit. What comes along with hope? Joy and peace, without a doubt. Can you remember a time when you were truly joyful, but without hope at the same time? Impossible. Without hope, there is only despair. And it’s impossible to be filled with joy or peace when in total despair, as one is without Christ.
In contrast to despair, what does overflowing with hope look like? Do you think Paul is exaggerating with that? I think Paul was speaking from experience. His own personal overflowing of hope is shown as joy in his encouraging letters to so many new believers in the early church, led by the Spirit. Paul’s overflowing hope given by the Spirit allowed hope, joy, and peace to spill over to countless others, even to this day, through his testimony and letters of encouragement.
Bobby Cross
Prayer: God, thank You for the hope You’ve given me. Thank you for the joy that comes from my hope in You. Help me keep my eyes on you and what your Son has done for me as my source of joy. Help me to not allow the things of this world discourage me, for they are temporary. Let my hope be in Your promises. Fill me with so much hope that I overflow. Allow me to be an encouragement to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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