Passage of the Day:
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews[b] on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles; I will sing the praises of your name.”[c] 10 Again, it says, “Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”[d] 11 And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.”[e] 12 And again, Isaiah says, “The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; in him the Gentiles will hope.”[f] 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, Romans 15:7-13.
Reflection:
I was one of many residents of the southeast impacted by Hurrican Helene. A tornado came through my neighborhood early Friday morning snapping one large tree in two and knocked down 4 other trees. Although I was scheduled to work, my wife Leanne talked me out of leaving the house. If I stubbornly left, I wouldn’t be here today to write about my experience, probably crushed by one of the thousands of trees that took out power lines, houses and cars in Aiken County. Despite being without power for days and likely another week without modern necessities that I have taken for granted, the God of hope has a new meaning for me this morning.
Prayerful Action:
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer, Romans 12:12.
Clinging to a Glimmer of Hope this Fall:
As a Roman citizen, I’m assuming the apostle Paul appreciated the newly established Church in Rome. As Paul continued to spread the good news about Jesus Christ daily, not everyone was excited or receptive to this message. As Paul was beaten, imprisoned and persecuted for fulfilling the Great Commission, Acts 1:8, Paul reminds first century Christians of the role that hope and prayer plays in daily life. One of my spiritual mentors in college once shared, “God doesn’t call us to be successful, but faithful to God’s calling.” When you have the opportunity to share, seize each day to tell this world about the God of hope.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
My struggles to sleep without central air or ceiling fan pale in comparison to what the apostle Paul endured. May the lyrics to The Struggle inspire you to cling to the God of hope this fall.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 