Date: Monday, 4th March, 2024
Text: Romans 5:5-8
Author: Pastor Adedeji Fadehan
Exhortation:
Besides Faith, the second essential Apostle Paul identified is Hope. Hope has the element of trust. Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary defines hope as, “To trust in, wait for, look for or desire something or someone; or to expect something beneficial in the future.” It is to ‘put confidence in’ or ‘to take refuge in’ someone or something.
The word of God warns us not to put our trust in riches, idols, foreign powers, military might, princes, other humans, beauty, education or personal achievements. In fact we are also warned not to put our trust or confidence in our own wisdom or understanding- Proverbs 3:5-6.
We are expected to put our trust in God’s love, ordinances, teaching; in his word and salvation. Prophet Jeremiah referred to God as the Hope of Israel; he said, ‘“O Lord, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living waters.” Jeremiah 17:13
Hope in God does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us- Isaiah 49:23c; Romans 5:5-8. Therefore, if Christ is in you, you have the hope of glory- Colossians 1:27.
Those who live and die in Christ have the hope of rising again unto glory- 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. However, those who die without Christ have no hope. For them is reserved everlasting burning in the blackest darkness- the Lake of Fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth forever- Revelation 20:15-20.
This is why the hope of the believer transcends this material world. Apostle Paul said, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable”- 1 Corinthians 15:19
If you are not yet in Christ, what are you waiting for? Run to Jesus today and put your hope in Him.
Prayer Nugget: Lord Jesus, I put my hope in you alone for the rest of my life.