Hoping

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. -Romans 8:24,25

We’ve all heard the expression, “Let’s hope for the best.” It’s commonly used for any type of situation we that may befall us. I began to think, exactly what do we hope for? We never hope for the joys we already have, only the things we do not have.

The book of Romans is filled with thought provoking instances. Paul was probably in Corinth when he wrote to the Romans in this letter. His “hope” was to revisit them somewhere along the way, however until that visit he made great effort to train them in his “hope of a personal” ministry for their church members. The wisdom packed in the pages of the letter to the Romans is amazing.

Throughout his ministry, Paul spoke of a continuing hope, a burning desire to minister to each other as well as to those outside the confines of the church. He wanted to “fine tune” us, so to speak. When he wrote the scripture, “Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait patiently” he made a major impact on the thought process of the church.

We hope and wonder what will happen in our lives from day to day. Usually, it’s the things we have high expectations for that we wish for the most. However, Paul makes a good point. If we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait patiently. That puts a new spin on what we wish for. This remark takes the limelight from our personal desires to the desires of necessity. Hoping for things we do not yet have. The tables now focus on the needs and not the wants. When we learn to hope with a pure faith that God will provide the needs of the church, then we are falling into a humility that is precious–trusting fully in His saving grace.

What do you hope for? Is it to see the next NFL football game or to go to the next big dinner function. Or do you hope for the things your inner most life does not have? I urge you to intentionally ponder that question? What does your life lack spiritually? Pray for it, hope for it, and wait patiently to receive.

Prayer: Holy Father, God of all Creation. May we find our hope in You, and You alone.