Rejoicing in hope. 

Romans 12:12

The New Testament writers emphasized the power of hope. This is not a concept I hear much about these days.   Come to think of it, when have I heard a sermon on the hope that believers cling to with all their might and heart?  Have we lost the urge to hope?  Do we just pretend that all we have is what we have, nothing more?  Any reflection on the writers of the New Testament point to the essential nature of hope.

Paul emphasized hope!  He went so far as to ask believers to rejoice in hope!  What happens when we longer hope?  I suppose it is the way most of us believers deal with the future and our place in it.  For Paul, a strong hope is essential for our walk of faith.  I need to revisit this urgency to hope!

Listen to Paul.  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)  Overflow with hope?  What does that mean?  Not just hoping a bit or when it looks like everything else fails but hoping because it is the essential urge of all believers.  Without hope, what does it mean to me to trust God?  This such an essential in our lives of faith that it is possible only by the power of the Holy Spirit!

Friend, let us recover the place of hope in our walk of faith.