“Whatever was written beforehand is meant to instruct us in how to live. The Scriptures impart to us encouragement and inspiration so that we can live in hope and endure all things. Now may God, the source of great endurance and comfort, grace you with unity among yourselves, which flows from your relationship with Jesus, the Anointed One. Then, with a unanimous rush of passion, you will with one voice glorify God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You will bring God glory when you accept and welcome one another as partners, just as the Anointed One has fully accepted you and received you as his partner. Now may God, the inspiration and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable joy and perfect peace as you trust in him. And may the power of the Holy Spirit continually surround your life with his superabundance until you radiate with hope!” Romans 15:4-7,13
We find ourselves constantly hoping for something. In our work, we hope for good results in whatever we are attempting to achieve, or in our families, our hope is that all will be well, or maybe we find ourselves simply hoping for good weather for an upcoming event. Life is filled with unpredictable circumstances, and for each, we have some sort of hope. So, for our future, how do we live in hope, with the ability to endure all things?
In this passage, the Apostle Paul explains to us that God is our source for hope. Fueled by our relationship with Jesus, we can find endurance and comfort, as we accept and receive one another as brothers and sisters in and through Jesus Christ our Lord. Since this is the beginning of a new year, knowing that God is our inspiration and fountain of hope, and that in and through Jesus we can find our joy and perfect peace waiting, simply for the asking.
Heavenly Father, help us to remember, that our fountain of hope, through the power
of the Holy Spirit, can continually surround our lives, and be ever so thankful.
In Christ Love
Margaret
BLESSINGS FOR THE NEW YEAR