A Time for Hope - Advent Devotions 2019
Sunday, December 22 - Joshua Kenst
Romans 5:3-5 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Have you ever had to do something that really challenged you? Challenged you to the point where you say something like “This is too hard” or “This is so frustrating”? And yet despite the difficulties or the challenges of the task before you, you push on. You find a way to complete the task and feel both good and probably relieved that it has been accomplished.
I have often interpreted this passage from Romans as a motivational passage. One that is meant to inspire hope. What could fill a person with more hope than the knowledge that by the Holy Spirit, we have received the gift of God’s love? A love that persists and is ever with us, a love that is unending, and a love that does not disappoint? Sure, it would be nice if life was easy and if we did not have to face times of trial. But if we did not face those times, then would we know how to appreciate this gift of God’s love? And would we ever know hope? I would argue that we would not. Our call, among all other things is not to suffer, but to cling to the hope that is informed by God’s love for us. Not only that, but to also share and be witnesses to love and hope.
Fill our hearts with the hope that is informed of Your love for us, O God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Romans 5:3-5 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.
Have you ever had to do something that really challenged you? Challenged you to the point where you say something like “This is too hard” or “This is so frustrating”? And yet despite the difficulties or the challenges of the task before you, you push on. You find a way to complete the task and feel both good and probably relieved that it has been accomplished.
I have often interpreted this passage from Romans as a motivational passage. One that is meant to inspire hope. What could fill a person with more hope than the knowledge that by the Holy Spirit, we have received the gift of God’s love? A love that persists and is ever with us, a love that is unending, and a love that does not disappoint? Sure, it would be nice if life was easy and if we did not have to face times of trial. But if we did not face those times, then would we know how to appreciate this gift of God’s love? And would we ever know hope? I would argue that we would not. Our call, among all other things is not to suffer, but to cling to the hope that is informed by God’s love for us. Not only that, but to also share and be witnesses to love and hope.
Fill our hearts with the hope that is informed of Your love for us, O God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.