Wednesday: Hope in Christ
Read: Romans 15:7–13
SOAP: Romans 15:13
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Devotion:
Our God, the great Giver, has given us an amazing Gift in His Son, Jesus. Unlike the gifts we receive from friends or family, this is a gift that keeps giving, because when we accept God’s free gift of salvation through Jesus, we continue to receive good gifts!
Gifts always require some kind of sacrifice, and in Paul’s letter to the Roman believers he reminded them that Jesus has given us the perfect example to follow. Jesus put aside everything He could have easily claimed—all His rights and privileges as the Son of God—and instead sacrificed His life so that we could receive the gift of salvation. Instead of finding ways to be divisive, Paul encouraged the believers (including us) to follow Jesus’ example, loving others well, working together, and embracing the gift of hope and power that we receive from the Holy Spirit.
God did not send His Son to be born as a human and die for our sins and then leave us to figure the rest out on our own. God is good, it is His nature, and the hope that He desires for us comes from an overflow of what we receive from Him, through the Holy Spirit. This is a hope that does not fade. This is a hope that shines brightly when everything around us feels dark.
When we place our hope in Christ and rely on the help and power of the Holy Spirit, nothing can take it away. The Jesus we celebrate at Christmas was a promise God kept to His people—a promise of salvation and freedom from sin and the things that keep us from living abundant, full lives for His glory. That is a gift that keeps giving!
Prayer:
Father God, thank You for sending Your only Son to be born so I would have a way back to You. This Christmas, help me remember to keep my heart focused on You, the solid foundation of my hope. Amen.