• by
• 0 Comments

Reflections on Hope: Day 5

The Reflection on Hope: Day 5

Introduction

Reflections on Hope is a 5-day devotion on what God has to say to you and me about how he uses our struggles to form in us perseverance, character, and a living hope anchored in the nature of God the Father, in the work of Christ on the cross and the current work of God Holy Spirit in our hearts. Our Triune God is in the business of giving us hope and making us hopeful.  

 Day Five: The Nature of Hope

Scripture: Romans 5:3-4 (NKJV) - “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Devotion

The hope produced by character is vibrant and life-giving. It’s not just an abstract concept but a living reality that transforms how we see the world and live our lives causing us to live a hope-filled life.

The beauty of this Christian hope is it’s not wishfully thinking, it’s a living hope expressed by God the Father, through God the Son, and kept alive in our Hearts by God the Spirit. You and I are constantly reminded of this hope through the promises of God revealed in the scriptures.

This hope is not hinged on what we can do, but on what God can do, not on what we did in the past, but what Christ did on the Cross, not on what we are currently able to do but what the Spirit is doing in our lives.

Our Hope is secure as long as God is still an All-loving God. It is safe enough to see us through our daily struggles and brave enough to point us to eternity when our faith shall be in sight. On this hope, the Getty’s put it well

What is our hope in life and death?
Christ alone, Christ alone
What is our only confidence?
That our souls to him belong
Who holds our days within his hand?
What comes, apart from his command?
And what will keep us to the end?
The love of Christ, in which we stand

-          Keith and Kristyn Getty

Prayer

Lord, let my hope shine brightly in a world that desperately needs it. Use my life as a testimony of Your goodness and faithfulness. Help me to spread Your hope to those around me, drawing them closer to Your love but before I do that, make my heart a never-ending fountain of Hope. 

Amen.