Romans 12:12 – Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Today’s verse is short, but it carries a power packed punch of Gospel truth. It is separated into three segments. These three are the foundation that our spiritual well being stands on. Let’s explore each.
Be joyful in hope. Our hope is in God, in His kingdom, in our future in heaven. What better hope can we have but that? We can trust in that future because God wants none to perish but all to come to Him (2 Peter 3:9). Being joyful in hope is not a command telling us we need to be happy. But it is a command that directs us in recognizing the reason we have joy. Our hope is in what has not yet been seen (Romans 8:24) – eternity with Him. In addition, He is with us now, in the midst of life and is our strength in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Patient in affliction. Another word for affliction is tribulation, or trials. We are not guaranteed an easy life after we are saved. We WILL face trials and tribulation. But we have hope in our future and should be praying regularly, so patience in affliction should be easier for us to endure. Don’t neglect any part from today’s verse because they each work hand in hand. We should be waiting patiently for the coming glory (Romans 8:18, Romans 8:25).
Faithful in prayer. We are to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We show our need for Him when we seek Him regularly. A good relationship develops when you spend quality time together, and God wants that with us, as well. Read your Bible and pray often. Seek Him. He is waiting.
Where is your hope? Are you faithfully seeking Him daily? Are you being patient during troubling times? Take a few minutes to honestly assess your life and how you approach these three commands given by Paul to the Romans.
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