Focus
Stop and thank God for being present with you today. Ask for God’s guidance as you hear God’s voice through scripture and the writer.
Read
7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might 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 confess you among the Gentiles,
and sing praises to your name”;
10 and again he says,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”;
11 and again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples praise him”;
12 and again Isaiah says,
“The root of Jesse shall come,
the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;
in him the Gentiles shall hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Reflect
Hope. Joy. Peace.
These words, for the non-Christian, look cute on a Hallmark card, but as believers these three words are so much more. We truly can have a life filled with hope, joy, and peace—no matter what we face because of the power of the Holy Spirit.
Last year, at a family member’s funeral, tears were shed as we grieved a man that left behind a wife, children and grandchildren. But in the midst of that sadness, the Holy Spirit was there. We had hope we would one day be reunited with this loved one. We had joy he was no longer suffering but fully healed and whole with the Father. And we had peace, such peace, knowing he was a believer and now in Heaven.
Hope. Joy. Peace. What beautiful gifts, given to us from above.
Pray
Lord, thank you for the gifts of hope, joy, and peace given to us by the Holy Spirit. Help us draw near to the Spirit, so that we may receive and accept these gifts.
Go with God!
Leave a Reply
Your email is safe with us.