DEVOTION – DAY 280

Romans 15:13 “God Is Our Source Of Hope”

 

Romans 15:13 “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.”

 

I was struck by the truth in this verse when I came across two cases of people terminally ill. Both patients were under hospice care as the doctors were unable to do anything more to treat their respective medical conditions. Their cancer was too aggressive and advanced for further treatment.

 

In the first case, the patient was an unbeliever. When I visited him, he was feeling very low and had given up. He was simply waiting to die. He was filled with regret of not being able to do many things in life. He was feeling bitter and was asking why he had cancer and why it wasn’t someone one else. He was fearful of death. He was fearful of the pain that came with his illness. But when asked to believe in Jesus as his Lord and Savior, he declined telling me that he had always worshipped a Japanese based religion. Yet, that religion gave him no hope in his present condition.

 

In the second case, the patient was a believer. When I visited him, he was calm and was cheerful. He knew his condition was serious and he thanked God that each day was God’s gift to Him. He was ready for God to take him home anytime because he looked forward to be with Jesus. Instead of being fearful, he was at peace. He accepted that he may not have long to live. He decided to live each day with thankfulness to God, and to give God praise.

 

The contrast between these two terminally ill men could not be more different. The Christian patient relied on God because God is the God of hope. Rom.15:13 reminds us that He is the God of hope. Any hope a Christian has comes from God. God is the one who gives us the hope of eternal life, a co-inheritance with Christ, a resurrected new body, a place in Heaven and so on. This verse also reminds us that such hope cannot be created in us by human effort. It is given to us as a gift by the Holy Spirit. That was why the Christian who was terminally ill was still joyful and at peace. He had hope.

 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we praise you for you are our God of hope. Thank you for giving us hope, love, peace and joy in all circumstances. May we lift up our spirits whenever we face adversities in life and to give you the glory. We humbly ask this in the blessed name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

Questions

  1. How do you face adversities and challenges in life? Do you face it with hope or are you weighed down?
  2. Will you turn to God as your source of hope in tough times?
  3. Even in your darkest times, what are some of God’s abundant promises that you can rely on that gives you hope? Share.
  4. Who can you encourage to turn to God because you know they are facing challenges?