Romans 15:12–13: “And again, Isaiah says: ‘There shall be a root of Jesse; and He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, in Him the Gentiles shall hope.’ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

May 10th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

Here Paul introduces us to a new title for God, “God of hope.” He is the source of eternal hope for every believer. This title was unknown to the Gentile pagans in Rome, but they did have a statue of a goddess called “Hope.” It is interesting that her temple in Rome was struck by lightning and burned. Even more interesting is that shortly after it was rebuilt, it was again burned to the ground. Paul was pointing the heathens in Rome to the fountain of real hope that can only be found in Jesus Christ. Biblical hope means an expectation, an anticipation of coming good.

In the town of Port Hope, Canada, there is a monument to a man who lived through a great deal of tragedy but discovered hope in Jesus Christ. Joseph Scriven (1819–1896) gave much of his life and energy to helping those who could not repay him. He was born in Dublin, and after finishing college was engaged to be married. Tragically, the night before their wedding, his fiancé fell into a pond and drowned. Scriven eventually moved to Canada where he found a relationship with Jesus Christ. He matured into a devout believer who answered a call to serve poor widows, orphans, and sick people, completely free of charge. Not long before his death a friend discovered a poem he had written to his mother. After his death, this poem was set to music and countless souls have found real hope in his words:

What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear.

What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer.

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry,
Everything to God in prayer.

“LORD, we choose to lay all our burdens down before You this day, and ask that You would carry them for us, in Jesus’ name.”