“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)

Paul had a wonderful ability to condense into a few words great and rich truths. This sentence from his letter to Rome (in which are so many choice treasures) is just one splendid example.

Who is “the God of hope”?  He who is, in His nature and work, the source and guarantee of the glorious destiny to which His children can look with confidence and eager anticipation. Hope in the world may be no more than wishful thinking, but our hope is made sure by the God of hope.

“Now may the God of hope…” Yes, the God of hope, the One who calls us into His fellowship, wants us to have a real and living hope. Like faith, hope is essential to the life of a Christian (1 Corinthians 13:13). In fact, we can know something of the reality of our walk with God by the measure of hope that fills our heart. To know the God of hope is to have hope.

Dear child of God, do you live only for this life? Are you like Lot, who looked out for present advantage (Genesis 13:10), or like Abraham who counted the stars in hope (Genesis 15:5)? As we venture further into the light of God’s truth through fellowship with Him, we increasingly long for and expect that which He has promised. Resurrection is coming – our resurrection – when death will be swallowed up by life (1 Corinthians 15:54), when we shall be like Him and when we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). On that day, this world and this life, with all its troubles and pain, will be looked upon as only the brief preface to the greatest story ever to be told.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing…” Our hope is certain, and the Lord would have us now filled with joy and peace through faith. Faith is not merely mental assent to a few truths. Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ brings us into a living connection with the unseen realm. How? The Holy Spirit seals as God’s own possession all who bow before the Son, who humble themselves and give to Him their heart and life. It is the indwelling Holy Spirit who unites us with Christ. He enables us to begin to see and know His beauty, power and sufficiency. Then joy rises from the glorious freedom that Christ Jesus has won for us, and peace from our security in Him, having been reconciled “through the blood of His cross” (Colossians 1:20). Many people might claim they believe, but they do not bow, but stand, as it were, before the Lord and try to negotiate with Him. That is not the faith that saves, and not the faith that fills anyone with joy and peace.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope…” Paul was not a man of half measures. His desire for the believers was that hope would permeate every part of their life and give them that far-sightedness that characterises so many of God’s greatest servants. The same childlike faith with which we begin our life in Christ is the faith that leads to abounding hope.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Assured hope can never arise out of wishful thinking, imagination or self-effort. Because the Holy Spirit is determined that we come into the fullness of our eternal calling, He is working a transformation in us that sets us apart to God. Transformation is the real evidence of the power of God in a believer’s life and it is not seen in some loud demonstration that might impress the world or the worldly. Its evidence is in consistent abiding in Christ and His word, unshakeable joy in Him, unwavering faithfulness and abounding hope.

“Lord, have Your way in us, fill us with abounding hope and glorify Your Name!“

(Photo courtesy of Sarah)