Romans 5:1-5 NIV
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
INSIGHT
-Scripturally hope means to have a strong and confident expectation. Hope is akin to trust and a confident expectation. It is by the grace of God that we have been save and not by our works lest anyone should boast. Rather, we boast in the hope of glory for which Christ Jesus has given us victory on the cross. When our Christian character goes through hardship, hope of receiving what God has promised grows stronger. We have faith into grace in which we stand. The Holy Spirit gives us lavish evidence in our hearts of God’s love for us. Hope in God then produces peace through the love of God that has been poured into our hearts through His work of salvation.
PRAYER
Thank You for Your cross Lord Jesus. Thank You for the price You paid on the cross for our redemption. We have freedom through Your precious blood and bear the hope of glory in our hearts through Your everlasting love. Thank You for enabling us to come this far and for the grace to see a new week. We ask for Your grace and mercy to be upon us. We ask for Your guidance and favor precious Holy Spirit. We ask for Your wisdom and understanding as we become more like You dear Jesus. May You forgive us all our trespasses and wash us with Your blood. May You bless the work of our hands and grant us victory in all spheres of our lives. May You give us strength and bless us with Your peace. We honor You Lord Jesus and give You praise, and it is in Jesus Mighty name we pray believing and trusting. Amen.
Further reading: Isaiah 26:3
Psalms 31:24
“Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart, All you who hope in the LORD.”
INSIGHT
-Hope in God gives us strength, courage and boldness. God calls us to wait on Him and not despair amidst challenges or when trouble assails; for He will renew our strength. He has commanded us to be strong, of good courage and not be afraid nor dismayed, for He will be with us wherever we go (Joshua 1:9). In His merciful love, God promises that those who remain steadfast in good works and wait on Him will not be disappointed for their labor in Him is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58).
PRAYER
We thank You Lord our Father for giving us hope and strength to push on life with Your grace. You have promised us Lord that our labour in You is not in vain, help us to persevere in faith and patience in all situations Lord. Be with those who are mourning the lose of their loved ones, heal those who are sick, map out a way for all those who are unemployed and struggling in business, provide for those who are facing financial difficulties, unite the unmarried in Your love, provide seed for all those who are unable to bear children, guide those who are struggling with marital issues, heal those who are undergoing depression, help our children to hold fast obedience and direct us all in the way we should go merciful King. Level the mountains for us and make all the crooked paths straight Lord, we trust in You. Strengthen our hearts always Father so that we may never despair or loose hope in life. Blessing, honor, glory and power belongs to You Father forever and ever. Amen
Further reading: Psalm 29:11
Romans 8:24-25 NKJV
“For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”
INSIGHT
-Once we were far off having the condemnation brought forth by the sin of Adam. We were lost in the uncircumcision of the flesh and strangers to the commonwealth of Israel having no covenant relationship with God. Through the death of Jesus on the cross we have been brought near by His blood. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive (1 Corinthians 15:22). When we had no Messiah and without hope, Christ died for us and resurrected so that we may believe in Him, whether Jew or Gentile and made us one body in Him, causing the circumcision of the heart by the Spirit (Romans 2:29). That which is seen is not hope but we eagerly wait on God with perseverance. As we look up to Christ, let us put all our hope and trust in Him even through our daily challenges. Let us rely on Christ and His salvation power believing that He will transform our hopelessness to rejoicing, and finally eternal joy.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father we thank You for Your loving kindness upon us Your children Abba Father. We appreciate You for enabling us to see this new week, loving Father. We thank You dear Jesus for sacrificing Your life for ours. Thank You for redeeming us with Your precious blood and for saving us from eternal condemnation. May You calm every storm in our lives dear Jesus and deliver us from hopelessness. We call on You to deliver all those who are faced by depression and are contemplating suicide, that You may give them hope. We look to You Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, that You may hear our prayers and fight for our every battle, in our lives, families, society and nation. We pray this believing and trusting in Jesus mighty name. Amen
Further reading: Ephesians 2:11-13
Romans 12:9-13 NIV
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.”
INSIGHT
-Love is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, given to us as we focus on the new commandment that Jesus bestowed upon us, saying, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). God calls each one of us to love one another sincerely and do that which is good. God also calls us to demonstrate love by practicing hospitality. 1 John 3:17 reminds us that, “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?” The love of God is demonstrated through loving one another in truth and we hope joyfully in His promises and will for our lives.
PRAYER
Dear Lord Jesus we love You, that You for loving us first. May You fill us with Your fruit of love Holy Spirit which is indeed greater that faith and hope, that we may love You above all else and our neighbors as ourselves. May You transform us to be more like You, loving and compassionate at heart. May Your love overcome all evil and train us to do Your will always. May You provide for all those lack. May You deliver all the street families and grant them better life apart from living in the streets. May You train our hearts to be patient in affliction, joyful in hope and faithful in prayer. We love You dear Lord Jesus and honor You, and it is in Jesus mighty name we pray believing and trusting. Amen
Further reading: 1 Corinthians 13:13
1 Timothy 4:8-10 NIV
“For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.”
INSIGHT
-Paul demystifies that hope is putting trust in God and holding fast His promises both in the present life and in the future. Hope of eternal glory dwells especially in the hearts of those who believe having the seal of the Holy Spirit.
SUMMARY
Hope and faith complement each other. Both are dependent of an unseen belief in God and His promises. “Hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance” (Romans 8:24-25). Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). Hope is an optimistic attitude based on expectation or desire. Hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing, that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13). Hope in God assures us of courage and strengthening of our hearts (Psalms 31:24). Hope in God gives us endurance, comfort, confidence presently and even in the face of death (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Hope in God our living God and Savior of all men also gives us confidence in ministry and for this purpose we labor and strive by the grace of God (1 Timothy 4:10). Hope in God also assures us of the justification that has come through faith in Jesus and we have peace through the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:1-5).
PRAYER
Thank You Jesus for Your eternal plan for us through Your gift of salvation, all our hope and trust is in You Lord. Thank You for the plans that You have for us, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give us a future and hope. Thank You Jesus for dying on the cross for our sins. May You cleanse us from all sin and iniquity and grant us Your grace to be triumphant in all situations. May we decrease as You increase merciful Savior. May You fill our hearts with joy and peace in believing in You dear Lord Jesus so that by the power of the Holy Spirit we may abound in hope. Thank You for Your love and saving grace our Lord of hope. We worship You Lord Jesus and honor You, and it is in Jesus Mighty name we pray believing and trusting. May You bless us and keep us. May You shine Your face towards us and be gracious unto us. May You show Your countenance unto us and give us peace. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forevermore. Amen
Further reading: 1 Peter 1:3, Revelation 22:4