Word for the day by Christian Education Forum
Integrity of Whole Creation in Christ
Bible portion: Rom 8:18-25
V25“… we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience”.
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Devotion
V25“… we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience”.
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Devotion
In today’s passage for meditation, we find that Apostle Paul alludes to the groaning of all creation as it waits in hope for adoption into God’s kingdom and a life of eternity and redemption from sinfulness.
We learn that pain and suffering originated in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the prohibited tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Their disobedience caused their eyes to open and reveal their nakedness and guilt. As punishment for their sin God said to Eve, “I will make your pangs in childbirth exceedingly great; in pain you shall bring forth children.” To Adam God said, “cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life” (Genesis 3). Thus, pain, suffering, death, and decay came upon humanity and everything on earth (the ground). Since the Old Testament times, the remedy for human sinfulness was to learn lessons from past experiences of God’s wrath for disobedience and receive God’s grace through obedience to His commandments.
The New Testament offers a more promising solution to human pain, suffering, death, and decay. Humanity is reassured that “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him many not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The followers of Jesus will be able to overcome the alienation of humanity and reintegrate with God and his creation. The Apostle Paul though not a contemporary of Jesus believed in His life, death, resurrection, and redeeming grace for all people. His hope was for Jesus to return to establish a kingdom where heavenly peace and joy embraces the world eternally. He hoped for what he did not see and waited for it with patience. It is Jesus that sets up the standard for that hope in Paul in the same manner as Jesus offers that very same hope for redemption for all of us who believe in Him.
Hope is integral to our faith in Jesus Christ. We know and hope that even if the worst happens, goodness will ensue. We acknowledge that the world is imperfect but hope that the future will be better with new heavens and a new earth as stated by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 65:17). We live in a world where beauty fades and loveliness decays, yet new life springs around and yields abundant joy. Yet we are reluctant to accept that God’s abundant glory and blessings surround us. We pray “Thy kingdom come,” but fail to realize the Kingdom is already here.
Humanity fights its evil nature within and without as it lives in a world with decay and death. However, a Christian ought to look beyond the world to God, and not just dwell on the consequences of sin but the power of God’s mercy and love. Thus, our hope is a positive expectation of the things to come. It is an essential element that tunes our attitude to joyful anticipation of things yet unseen. Hope takes us on a journey with God into the invisible and unknown future. We are called to travel with patience!
We learn that pain and suffering originated in the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and ate from the prohibited tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Their disobedience caused their eyes to open and reveal their nakedness and guilt. As punishment for their sin God said to Eve, “I will make your pangs in childbirth exceedingly great; in pain you shall bring forth children.” To Adam God said, “cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life” (Genesis 3). Thus, pain, suffering, death, and decay came upon humanity and everything on earth (the ground). Since the Old Testament times, the remedy for human sinfulness was to learn lessons from past experiences of God’s wrath for disobedience and receive God’s grace through obedience to His commandments.
The New Testament offers a more promising solution to human pain, suffering, death, and decay. Humanity is reassured that “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him many not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The followers of Jesus will be able to overcome the alienation of humanity and reintegrate with God and his creation. The Apostle Paul though not a contemporary of Jesus believed in His life, death, resurrection, and redeeming grace for all people. His hope was for Jesus to return to establish a kingdom where heavenly peace and joy embraces the world eternally. He hoped for what he did not see and waited for it with patience. It is Jesus that sets up the standard for that hope in Paul in the same manner as Jesus offers that very same hope for redemption for all of us who believe in Him.
Hope is integral to our faith in Jesus Christ. We know and hope that even if the worst happens, goodness will ensue. We acknowledge that the world is imperfect but hope that the future will be better with new heavens and a new earth as stated by the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 65:17). We live in a world where beauty fades and loveliness decays, yet new life springs around and yields abundant joy. Yet we are reluctant to accept that God’s abundant glory and blessings surround us. We pray “Thy kingdom come,” but fail to realize the Kingdom is already here.
Humanity fights its evil nature within and without as it lives in a world with decay and death. However, a Christian ought to look beyond the world to God, and not just dwell on the consequences of sin but the power of God’s mercy and love. Thus, our hope is a positive expectation of the things to come. It is an essential element that tunes our attitude to joyful anticipation of things yet unseen. Hope takes us on a journey with God into the invisible and unknown future. We are called to travel with patience!
Prayer
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Roman 15:13).
Thought for the Day
Thought for the Day
Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer (Romans 12:12).
Dr. Mathew T. Thomas
Mar Thoma Church of Greater Washington