Bible Readings
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who he has given us. (Romans 5:1-5)
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 15:13)
Thought
Three separate incidents have occurred recently that have caused me to think about hope.
The first happened while I was watching Gardeners’ World a few weeks ago. The presenter, Adam Frost, said that ‘gardeners are people of hope’. For every time a gardener sows a seed or puts a plant in the grown they are hopeful that the seed will germinate or the plant will grow and flourish. If gardeners were not hopeful people they wouldn’t garden in the first place.
The second incident took place on Easter Sunday. You may be aware that Andrea Bocelli, an Italian opera singer, broadcast a live classical music concert from Milan. His music for hope concert has become the biggest live-streamed classical event of all time with over 35 million views. Before watching the concert Andrea Bocelli explains his reasons for doing it, he talks about how he believes in the strength of praying together and in Easter and how important it was for him to be doing the concert on the day in which we celebrate the trust in a life that triumphs.
The third incident was the discovery of a song by a Christian song-writer Phil Wickham. I was introduced to it while listening to other songs on YouTube during Holy Week and I then used it as part of my daily devotions throughout that week. The song is called Living Hope and one of the verses says ‘The cross has spoken, I am forgiven. The King of kings calls me His own. Beautiful Saviour, I’m Yours forever, Jesus Christ, my living hope.’ If you do not know the song I have put a link to it below.
I am a gardener, but that is not what fills me with hope, just as Paul wrote to the church in Rome, it is my faith in a risen Lord Jesus, the love of a heavenly Father and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. As Christians our hope is secure.
Prayer
May the God of hope fill me with all joy and peace as I trust in him, so that I may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Living Hope – song by Phil Wickham