Read Romans 5:1-2.
There’s little difference between “hope” and wishing upon a star in this world.
The biblical definition of ‘hope’ is totally different. When the Bible uses the word ‘hope’ it is used positively and with 100% certainty, not with that wish upon a star mentality. One year, after submitting my tax return I was promised a $5,000 return. I immediately started spending that money because I knew for certain that it would come. Biblical hope is that certainty whereby we know that God will keep His promise. There are no doubts. There are no what-if’s!!
Take a moment to read Romans 5:1-2 again and think about the absolute statements that are made. Take note that there are no conditional statements made. We have been justified through faith. We have peace with God. We have gained access into grace by faith. These are all things that have been completed and done for us through Christ Jesus. They are not debatable. They are not doubtable. They are certain things that have happened.
And so we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. This phrase, because of the Greek construction, could also be translated as ‘Let us rejoice in the hope of the glory of God’. Either way, the force is not lost!
The verses are saying that since we are justified by faith, since we have peace with God and since we stand in God’s grace we can rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. We can know for certain that God will be glorified. This hope has two points of application. We know that God will be glorified when Jesus returns for the second and final time to judge the living and the dead. Sin will be dealt with once for all and all those who reject God will be ultimately and finally rejected by Him (that’s why we evangelise so fervently). Only good and perfection and love will remain. We know that this is coming as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow. Secondly, we know that God will be glorified in our own lives. No matter what we go through, no matter how tough the road we must walk, God will be glorified in us and through us and so we can rejoice!
As those who stand in the grace of God we are not called to rejoice in suffering or in bad times. We are not called to be morbid or morose. No matter what we are going through we can always look to God and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Sickness may be haunting us but even if that sickness were to cause our ultimate demise we know that our future is in perfection with God. Let us hope in that. Persecution may be burdening us. Let us look to God and see that He can be glorified in us and through us. The harsher the persecution the greater the glory to God. Let us rejoice in the hope of His glory. Grief and sadness, due to loss of loved one perhaps, may be drawing our hearts away from God. Let us know for certain that even with our loved ones God will be glorified and He will act justly and rightly. So again, we hope in the glory of God.
Prayer:
Use the bible passage from today and the reading notes to write down your prayer points before you pray.
Adoration:
Confession:
Thanks:
Supplication:
¥ Pray that hope would blossom in each individual in your church.
¥ Pray for the persecuted believers in Iran/Iraq - that they would grow in hope and peace. Pray for thousands of conversions through their hope and peace.
Walk Moment:
Hope dwells in the heart and shows itself on our face and in our life.
1. It seems to be a common pattern that poorer believers rejoice more than richer believers. Why do you think this is so?
2. How can we in the rich West rejoice more?
3. What role does singing and music play in our rejoicing in the hope of the glory of God?
Intro: It’s very easy to wish upon a star or to use our horoscopes for example to wish that something great might happen to us.
Discuss something in your life that you really wised that would happen but didn’t. Discuss how you felt and reacted etc.
Read Romans 8:28
How can we trust God even though we don’t get what we wished for?
Is God unfair in not giving us what we want? Discuss.
Pray together that you would understand God’s goodness to you.
Intro: It’s very easy to wish upon a star or to use our horoscopes for example to wish that something great might happen to us.
Discuss something in your life that you really wised that would happen but didn’t. Discuss how you felt and reacted etc.
Read Romans 8:28
How can we trust God even though we don’t get what we wished for?
Is God unfair in not giving us what we want? Discuss.
Pray together that you would understand God’s goodness to you.
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