Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. Romans 15:13
We watched the grandchildren perform their parts in the concert that is held each year to raise money to provide poor children with food and toys at Christmas. Some of the songs that the different individuals and choirs sang were the grand old carols that we have known and enjoyed for years. Others were newer Christmas songs, most of them will less emphasis on the Christ than on the season. But even the newer songs included frequent mentions of two of the themes of the very first Christmas message to the shepherds of Bethlehem: joy and peace. These are lofty goals, and yet we live in a world that knows so very little of either of them. The arrival of the Holy Infant in the manger did not eliminate sorrow and trouble and strife in this world, at least not yet. Misery and fighting continue to abound, and even grow worse despite the little efforts to alleviate the Christmas disappointments of children. But there is one place in this world where joy and peace can reign supreme, and that is in the heart of each believer.
The God of hope is identified in our text as the source of the joy and peace that we may have. In fact, Paul tells us that He will fill us with joy and peace so that we abound in hope. This resource is not available to those who are outside of Christ. All of the peace negotiations and agreements ever signed by men are doomed to failure, because they come from the hearts of men who lack peace themselves. Wars continue to be fought because those who talk about peace are motivated by greed and enmity. Their efforts to reach peace are temporary and doomed to failure. But the God of peace is the source of the peace that we receive and can share. With His peace within our hearts, we can rest in the assurance of freedom forever from the judgment we deserve and in the assurance of a blessed home in His presence for eternity. And that should fill our hearts with joy.
The New Testament never presents us with any examples of long-faced Christians, saints whose lives are filled with anxiety, worry, or malcontentment. Christians in Scripture are presented as joyful, enthusiastic, and cheerful in the face of adversity and tribulation. Unlike the calamities that befall the unsaved, calamities that befall Christians are temporary, and come with the assurance of our Saviour’s companionship through all the trials. They also come with the promise that God will never allow us to be tested beyond our ability to bear. That sounds to me like a reason to always be joyful.
How good of the God of hope to fill us with His joy and peace today and as far into the future as we need! -Jim MacIntosh