By the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope. – Romans 15:13
James Russell Lowell, associated with the Fireside Poets of New England in the early 19th century, once wrote, “The worst kind of religion is no religion at all.” Continuing his thought, Lowell bid those who disdain Christianity, and indulge themselves in the amusements of non-religious behavior, to think about what this world would be like without those who love the Lord and place their faith in the Savior who gives the believer abundant hope.
It was Lowell’s assertion that not even a ten square mile area could be found “where a decent man can live in decency, comfort, and security, supporting and educating his children, unspoiled and unpolluted – a place where age is reverenced, infancy respected, manhood respected, woman honoured, and human life held in due regard – such a place… where the gospel of Christ has not gone and cleared the way, and laid the foundation” for a tolerable society. Thus, these contentious people should hesitate a little before they try to rob the believer of his hope… the hope that he has because of the joy and peace through faith given by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Dear one, be encouraged in your faith. God can be trusted to give you spiritual joy that is satisfying and fulfilling. He will keep filling the container of your soul… all you need do is ask. Pray unceasingly. Bible commentator, Matthew Henry says, “Prayer fetches in spiritual joy and peace.” God’s answer for the problems in families, in towns and cities, in states and in any hall of government lies at the end of a prayer. Do not be faint of heart. Trust the Lord to respond appropriately.
Today’s Verse: Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Romans 5:1-8
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
