Hope, Patience and Trust (Part 1).

Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

 Here are three commands from Paul that we need to consider. They stem from his message in verses 1 and 2 - that we need to offer our bodies as living sacrifices and not conform to the world. If we are truly living for God, we should be doing these things. And they should be a joy for us!

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Rejoice in Hope.

What is our hope in and why should that make us rejoice? Our hope is the gospel, and we most certainly have reason to rejoice in it. So what is the gospel - the good news? In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1). He created it all good, and he only had one command for Adam and Eve (the first Humans). But they disobeyed it and since then all humans have been living in rebellion to God and we have also rejected him personally in our lives. We all sin (Romans 3:23) and as a result we deserve God's perfect and just wrath against sin (i.e. death and hell eternally).

Nevertheless God is also merciful and gracious. Even though we did not deserve it or even ask him for it, he sent his son Jesus (who is also God, along with God the father and God the Holy Spirit - they are all the one God) into the world as a man. Jesus lived a perfect life. He did not disobey God and therefore he is the only human who did not deserve to suffer God's wrath. But he was also God - the only one who could be perfect and who's sacrifice would be enough to pay for sin.

He came to earth and lived among us, and then was murdered by us. We rejected even God's son who came with the good news. But God knew that that would happen - in fact he planned it to happen. Jesus' death was in fact the only way we could be saved: Jesus took the sins of everyone who did, does or will put their faith in him when he died on the cross. He didn't only take that pain, but while on the cross he also took God's wrath against every sin we (Christians) deserve to suffer in hell for eternally.

He was then buried, but he rose again on the third day - he came back to life because "the wages of sin are death" (Romans 6:23), and he had completely satisfied God's just punishment for sin, so death had no power to hold him. By coming back to life he proves that he is truly the one who has saved us, and he calls everyone to put their faith in him and repent of their sin - calling us to turn back to God. Everyone who genuinely does that will be completely and entirely forgiven. More then that, we are adopted as God's children and as co-heirs with Christ (Romans 8). We can trust in all of God's promises, and we know that Jesus will return to judge the living and the dead - and since we are forgiven we will go to be with him forever, glorying in his presence in heaven eternally with no pain or mourning or tears (Revelations 21).

That is the gospel. That is what we are to hope in and rejoice about. There is nothing better! Nothing fuller! Jesus is the only one who can save and if we turn to him we are saved entirely. We don't have to fear death. We don't have to fear hardship here. We can look forward to heaven and rejoice in that hope. We can look back to Jesus and rejoice in what he has done regardless of our earthly circumstances.

We have reason to hope! God is faithful.
We have reason to rejoice! Jesus saves wretched sinners who turn to him!
In Christ,
Nat.

The riches of God's word.

Romans 12:12 

        Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

Here's a short, simple verse that's packed with good stuff. I love how God's word cna be so succinct and yet so full of treasure, and how different verses all link up.

Be Joyful in Hope 
It's pretty simple: Be joyful because of the hope you have. Be hopeful. Praise God. Jesus came to earth, he who was and is God became a man for our sakes. He lived perfectly and died to take our sins if we turn to him. Through him we are completely, 100% saved. Our sins are forgiven and even though we still stuff up he forgives. Therefore rejoice! Even if the world is falling apart, even if the mountains are falling into the heart of the sea, you have reason to rejoice (Psalm 46:1-3).

Our sure hope is that God works everything for his glory and our good (Romans 8:28) and that ultimately he will bring us to heaven, to be in his presence forever. That's a blessing we cannot fathom.

Philippians 4:4

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Patient in Affliction
Paul isn't a prosperity gospel preacher. Everyone who has any sense can see that Christians, like everyone else in the world, face hard times. Not only that, but we are often (or at least can be) persecuted for our faith. 2 Timothy 3:12 tells us that every Christian will be persecuted. The question isn't if, it's when will you be persecuted?

We will suffer, But be patient, the eternal glory we will receive is far better than any suffering we can face here. It's worth it by far (Romans 8:18). Trust God, be joyful and be patient.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Faithful in Prayer
Just because God's in control doesn't mean that we aren't called to trust him and pray. We should pray for ourselves and the situations we are in, and we should pray for those around us, both Christians and non-Christians.

Prayer is an expression of our trust in God. It is a proof of our faith. So keep praying, keep trusting God and keep serving him. Even if he doesn't seem to be answering. We know that God does answer our prayers - not always how we want or would expect, but he always hears us and works for our good in it all (Romans 8:28 again). 

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

Soli Deo Gloria
Nat.