The God of Hope

Beyond the Present Time
Resurrection Hope
Living with Hope

Romans 15:7-13

The Message

^7-13 So reach out and welcome one another to God’s glory. Jesus did it; now you do it! Jesus, staying true to God’s purposes, reached out in a special way to the Jewish insiders so that the old ancestral promises would come true for them. As a result, the non-Jewish outsiders have been able to experience mercy and to show appreciation to God. Just think of all the Scriptures that will come true in what we do! For instance:

Then I’ll join outsiders in a hymn-sing;
I’ll sing to your name!

And this one:

Outsiders and insiders, rejoice together!

And again:

People of all nations, celebrate God!
All colors and races, give hearty praise!

And Isaiah’s word:

There’s the root of our ancestor Jesse,
    breaking through the earth and growing tree tall,
Tall enough for everyone everywhere to see and take hope!

Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope! 

For Reflection

Reach out to witness to the living God.  Reach out in ways that others can not help but notice the Spirit of God which is at the very core of your being.  Reach out! 

Pray

that you will live in hope of the realization of God's Kingdom.  Pray that you will be inspired and comforted by the hope that drives your life.  Pray that you will see and respond differently than others who follow contemporary culturally derived rules.  Pray that you will hope that God's will be done.