God’s precious promises – Day 12

Paul composed the letter to the Romans in Corinth in AD 56-57 before setting out to Jerusalem to take funds to the believers there. Rather than depending on Phoebe, a deaconess, to take the letter to Rome, he would much have preferred to have gone himself. For he longed to go to Rome and proclaim the Gospel there.

His hope was to establish a base among his friends in Rome and when this was accomplished, to travel with their support to Spain to further spread the good news of God in Jesus Christ.

Paul’s hope however was not realized in the way he anticipated. He did succeed in getting to Rome some two years later, not on his own accord but as an awaiting trial prisoner in chains.

The Bible tells us that of the spiritual gifts, hope is one of the three most important graces. The other two graces are faith and love. One day when we are in heaven the need for hope and faith will fall away and only love will remain.

Everyone craves hope — hope for a better existence, hope in one’s personal relationships, hope for healing. Our hopes may not materialise quite the way we plan but we have the priceless privilege of access to the greatest hope.

Christ is the source of hope, without Christ there is no hope. With Christ, no matter how desperate our circumstances are, there is always hope.

Hope is not something we can achieve for ourselves. Hope is a gift from the Holy Spirit to those who are in fellowship with Christ.

No matter how pressured we are, the God of hope promises us joy and peace if we would just put our trust in him.