Hope---#4

Romans 5:1 -5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

This whole passage of scripture is rich with hope! Because the grace of God justifies us through faith in Christ Jesus , we have hope and this hope will not disappoint us because it is all tied up in the love of God and His glory. We may go through tough times in our lives, but God will use these to produce patience, character (as the NKJV renders it) and hope in our lives. Perhaps you wonder, how can tough times produce hope? It has been said that the troubles of this life wean us off the pleasures of this world and point us toward God and heaven. If we can get our eyes off our earthly circumstances and focus them toward heavenly things...toward Christ, then we will have hope. When people can see that we have an eternal hope in spite of our circumstances, it will bring glory to God and we can rejoice.

Hope looks to the future and keeps its eyes on the prize of the high calling of God.

Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Richard Sibbes (1577-1635)Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

was a great Puritan preacher. Here is what he says about hope:

"Trust and hope are often taken in the same sense, though a distinction betwixt them hath sometimes its use. Faith looks to the word promising, hope the thing promised in the word; faith looks to the authority of the promiser, hope especially to the goodness of the promise, faith looks upon things as present, hope as to come hereafter. God as the first truth, is that which hope rests on. Trust or confidence is nothing else but the strength of hope. If the thing hoped for be deferred, then of necessity, it enforces waiting, and waiting is nothing else but hope and trust lengthened."

Our hope rests in God. He is faithful. Press on!

Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Dear Father, You are faithful. We trust in Your promises. Our hope is in You. Amen.