Verse of the Day 8/18

Verse of the Day 8/18

Romans 15:13

English Standard Version

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.

I just completed reading through Romans this morning.  Each year I look forward to the time when I will be going through it.  Today's verse and passage below are a major reason for this.

We may think that God is love, and that is correct.  But one of the ways that this is conveyed to us in through hope, a hope that is given to us; which we are filled with by the Holy Spirit living in us.  This hope is tied in with faith and helps us to "abound" in good times and through the bad.

My son Jeff has coined the phrase "hope is my favorite thing to have".  And when I think of him and that saying I think of today's verse.  Now, 38 years old, he has been disabled since he was 16.  But through all of his trials and challenges God has filled him with hope, peace, love and joy.  He amazes me.

The only other person that comes close to him in showing these traits is my wife Jean.  Battling cancer, this hope also abounds in her.

John Piper references Philippians 4:7, Jeff's favorite verse when he writes, "The people who enjoy the peace of God that surpasses all understanding are those who in everything by prayer and supplication let their requests be made known to God…..The key that unlocks the treasure chest of God's peace is faith in the promises of God. So Paul prays, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing." And when we do trust the promises of God and have joy and peace and love, then God is glorified."

Verse 4 (below) tells us that the scriptures were written "that we might have hope."

May the God of hope fill you with hope and all joy and peace in believing today.

Blessings, 

Mike 

 

Folllow the Verse of the Day blog at http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace.  NIV

Romans 15:4-13
English Standard Version
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles
8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
"Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
    and sing to your name."
10 And again it is said,
"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people."
11 And again,
"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
    and let all the peoples extol him."
12 And again Isaiah says,
"The root of Jesse will come,
    even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope."
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.