Our Hope Does Not Disappoint

we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 5:2b-5

While I was in the Air Force, I spent some time in northern Alaska…in the fall. It was cold. Actually, cold doesn’t even describe it. When we would get up in the morning, it would be -10° and wouldn’t warm up much more than that. While the frigid temperature caused some problems, it made something amazing possible.

            One night I wanted to rent a movie, so I decided to walk over to the video rental place and pick one out. When I got outside of my building, there was a small group of people just standing there, like statues. Completely surprised, I thought to myself how dumb these people were. Then I looked up, and I was frozen just like they were. Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights, was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen in my life. In that moment, I felt as if the glory of God was on full display. Written on the night sky just for me to see. No matter how amazing that was, no matter how meaningful it was to me, God’s glory is infinitely better.

            One day we will see God in His full glory. It will be the most amazing thing we have ever seen – greater than we can comprehend. Our only response will be to fall down in worship. Oh, how I’m looking forward to that day! In the meantime, we rejoice in the hope of seeing that glory! While we wait there is going to be suffering. Maybe you’re feeling it already. Maybe you’re right in the middle of it now. Rejoice! Rejoice, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame! How do we know that our hope will not be put to shame? The promised Holy Spirit has poured God’s love into our hearts. This is the driving force behind our hope – the love of God.

Pray:

·       That we would see our need for perseverance in suffering

·       That our desire would be to see the glory of God through our suffering

·       That we would help others find hope in their suffering

Further Reading:

·       Romans 1, 5

Worship:

·       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vyo3Gm75Evs